Exchange of location information using a wireless communication device

ABSTRACT

Exemplary techniques for sending data packages that can include geographic information during group communication sessions between wireless telecommunication devices, such as push-to-talk communication sessions, are disclosed. In an embodiment the data packages are wirelessly transmitted by a communication device to a group communication server and then sent to other group members.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to wireless telecommunicationsystems. More particularly, the present invention relates to techniquesfor sharing geographic coordinates between wireless communicationdevices.

In wireless communication devices, such as cellular phones, PDAs,mini-laptops, and advanced pagers, the devices typically communicateover long distances by bridging telephone calls through existingcellular telephone networks and passing data packets across the network.These wireless communication devices often have data processing andcomputing capabilities, and can accordingly send and receive softwareprograms, in addition to voice, across the telephone network.

There exists a wireless telecommunication service that provides a quickone-to-one or one-to-many communication that is generically referred toas “Push-To-Talk” (PTT) capability. Generally speaking, the PTT systemuses standard voice-over internet protocol (VoIP) technologies. Voiceinformation is sent in digital form over IP-based data networks indiscrete packets rather than traditional circuitry switched protocolssuch as those used in the public switched telephone network (PSTN). InPTT scenarios, instead of using the standard cellular infrastructure acall is formed by combining separate point-to-point connections betweeneach IP endpoint in the network. Initiating the PTT system generates acall to the target device. The call originator's voice can be sentthrough the carrier's network to the target handset. The specific PTTgroup of recipient devices for the communicating wireless communicationdevice is commonly set up by the carrier. A PTT communication connectionis typically initiated by a single button-push on the wirelesscommunication device that activates a half-duplex link between thespeaker and each member device of the group and once the button isreleased, the device can receive incoming PTT transmissions. ExistingPTT systems have advantages over traditional cellular systems becausethey have faster call setup times, e.g., setup times ideally in therange of 1 second as opposed to cellular voice channels that can takemore than 5 seconds to establish. In some arrangements, the PTT speakerwill have the “floor” where no other group member can speak while thespeaker is speaking. Once the speaker releases the PTT button, any otherindividual member of the group can engage his or her PTT button and heor she will have the floor.

In existing PTT systems, member devices will only communicate voice databetween the devices during a communication session, e.g., when a groupcommunication channel is opened between member devices. It is difficultto include other data in the session because of the size of the data andthe device resources necessary to handle non-voice data. The existingwireless communication devices therefore send non-voice data, such asdata packages, through specific data channels established between thedevice and a wireless communication network.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a system and method fora wireless communication device to economically send data other thanvoice to others during a PTT or VoIP communication session.

SUMMARY

The present system and method provide techniques for sending geographiclocation information using a group communication server. An exemplaryembodiment describes a system for communicating geographical locationdata to one or more wireless devices of members of a communication groupon a wireless network, the system includes, but is not limited to, atleast one requesting wireless device that is a member of a communicatinggroup of a plurality of wireless devices, the at least one requestingwireless communication device selectively in communication with awireless network and configured to request the geographical location ofat least one other wireless device of a member of a communication group;and a group communication server that supports group communicationsbetween wireless devices of members of a communication group, the groupcommunication configured to selectively receive at least the request forgeographical location data from the requesting wireless communicationdevice and obtain the geographical location data for at least one memberof the communication group, and transmit the geographical location datato the requesting wireless device. In addition to the foregoing, otheraspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to storing, in memory, geographiccoordinate information for a first wireless devices; receiving, from asecond wireless device, a group communication channel setup request, therequest including information that identifies the second wirelessdevice; and sending geographic coordinates information for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device. In addition to theforegoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and textforming a part of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to receiving a group communicationchannel setup request from an originating device; sending a groupcommunication channel setup request to a target device, the groupcommunication channel setup request including a request for geographiccoordinates indicative of the location of the target device; andreceiving a group communication channel acknowledgement signal from thetarget device, the acknowledgment signal including the geographiccoordinates indicative of the location of the target device. In additionto the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to establishing a group communicationchannel between a target wireless device and an originating wirelessdevice; receiving geographic coordinates indicative of the location ofthe target device via the group communication channel; and sending thegeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the target deviceto the originating wireless device via the group communication channel.In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to establishing a group communicationchannel between a target wireless device and an originating wirelessdevice; receiving geographic coordinates indicative of the location ofthe originating wireless device via the group communication channel; andsending the geographic coordinates indicative of the location of thewireless device to the target wireless device via the groupcommunication channel. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to storing geographic coordinatesindicative of the location of the wireless device; sending, via awireless signal, a group communications channel setup request to a groupcommunication server, the request including information that identifiesa target device and the geographic coordinates; and receiving a signalindicating that the group communications channel has been established.In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to sending a request for a groupcommunications channel to a group communication server, the requestincluding information that identifies a target wireless device; andreceiving, via an established group communications channel, geographiccoordinates indicative of the location of the target wireless devicefrom the group communication server. In addition to the foregoing, otheraspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to maintaining a group communicationschannel established between a wireless device and a remote wirelessdevice; receiving geographic coordinates indicative of the location ofthe remote wireless device; and displaying the geographic coordinates.In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment a group communication server method is providedthat includes, but is not limited to sending, by the wireless device, asignal that grants a specific remote wireless device access to thegeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the wireless devicevia a group communication channel opened between the wireless device andthe specific remote wireless device; and sending, from a wirelessdevice, geographic coordinates indicative of the location of thewireless device to a group communication server that is configured toselectively grant access to the geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the wireless device during a group communication session. Inaddition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

The present system and method are therefore advantageous in that theyallow a wireless communication device to economically send data packagesand other data packages to others during a PTT communication session.Furthermore, the method of queuing and forwards bundles of data packagescan also be performed at the group communication server if the system isso embodied. The system and method thus have industrial applicability asthey can be implemented on a group communication system in order toprovide location information during group communication sessions. Theforegoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications,generalizations and omissions of detail. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended tobe in any way limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 describes an example environment for practicing aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an example wireless communication device.

FIG. 3 depicts an example system for sharing data packages.

FIG. 4 shows an example wireless network.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example operational procedure 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operationalprocedure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example operational procedure 500.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operationalprocedure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example operational procedure 900.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example operational procedure 1000.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example operational procedure 1100.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operationalprocedure of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example operational procedure 1300.

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operationalprocedure of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example operational procedure 1500.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operationalprocedure of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example operational procedure 1700.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this disclosure, the terms ‘communication device,’ ‘wirelesstelephone,’ ‘wireless communications device,’ ‘PTT communicationdevice,’ ‘handheld device,’ ‘wireless communication device,’ and‘handset’ are used interchangeably. The terms ‘call’ and ‘communication’are also used interchangeably. The term ‘group communication’ isintended to encompass a half duplex, or virtual half-duplexcommunication channel used for one-to-many communications, such aspush-to-talk half duplex communications, but can also embrace one-to-onecommunication where there are two only two group members present andcommunicating. The term ‘exemplary’ means that the disclosed element orembodiment is only an example, and does not indicate any preference ofuse. Further, like numerals refer to like elements throughout theseveral drawings, and the articles “a” and “the” include pluralreferences, unless otherwise specified in the description. It can beappreciated by one of skill in the art that one or more various aspectsof the disclosure may include but are not limited to circuitry and/orprogramming for effecting the herein-referenced aspects of the presentdisclosure; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually anycombination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effectthe herein-referenced aspects depending upon the design choices of thesystem designer.

The term circuitry used throughout the disclosure can include hardwarecomponents such as application specific integrated circuits, hardwareinterrupt controllers, hard drives, network adaptors, graphicsprocessors, hardware based video/audio codecs, and the firmware/softwareused to operate such hardware. The term circuitry can also includemicroprocessors configured to perform function(s) by firmware or byswitches set in a certain way or one or more logical processors, e.g.,one or more cores of a multi-core general processing unit. The logicalprocessor(s) in this example can be configured by software instructionsembodying logic operable to perform function(s) that are loaded frommemory, e.g., RAM, ROM, firmware, etc. In example embodiments wherecircuitry includes a combination of hardware and software an implementermay write source code embodying logic that is subsequently compiled intomachine readable code that can be executed by a logical processor. Sinceone skilled in the art can appreciate that the state of the art hasevolved to a point where there is little difference between hardware,software, or a combination of hardware/software, the selection ofhardware versus software to effectuate functions is merely a designchoice. Thus, since one of skill in the art can appreciate that asoftware process can be transformed into an equivalent hardwarestructure, and a hardware structure can itself be transformed into anequivalent software process, the selection of a hardware implementationversus a software implementation is insignificant to this disclosure andleft to an implementer.

Embodiments may execute on one or more computers. FIG. 1 and thefollowing discussion are intended to provide a brief general descriptionof a suitable computing environment in which the disclosure may beimplemented. One skilled in the art can appreciate that computer systemsdisclosed herein can have some or all of the components described withrespect to computer 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary computing system 100 is depicted.Computer system 100 can include a logical processor 102, e.g., anexecution core. While one logical processor 102 is illustrated, in otherembodiments computer system 100 may have multiple logical processors,e.g., multiple execution cores per processor substrate and/or multipleprocessor substrates that could each have multiple execution cores. Asshown by the figure, various computer readable storage media 110 can beinterconnected by a system bus which couples various system componentsto the logical processor 102. The system bus may be any of several typesof bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of busarchitectures. In example embodiments the computer readable storagemedia 110 can include for example, random access memory (RAM) 104,storage device 106, e.g., a electromechanical hard drive, a solid statehard drive, etc., firmware 108, e.g., FLASH RAM or ROM, and removablestorage 118 such as, for example, CD-ROMs, floppy disks, DVDs, FLASHdrives, external storage devices, etc. It should be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that other types of computer readable storage mediacan be used to store data, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, etc.

The computer readable storage media 110 provide storage of computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules and other datafor the computer 100. A basic input/output system (BIOS) 120, containingthe basic routines that help to transfer information between elementswithin the computer system 100, such as during start up, can be storedin firmware 108. A number of applications 124 and an operating system122 may be stored on firmware 108, storage device 106, RAM 104, and/orremovable storage devices 118, and executed by logical processor 102.

Commands and information may be received by computer 100 through inputdevices 116 which can include, but are not limited to, keyboards andpointing devices. Other input devices may include microphones,joysticks, game pads, scanners or the like. These and other inputdevices are often connected to the logical processor 102 through aserial port interface that is coupled to the system bus, but may beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port oruniversal serial bus (USB). A display or other type of display devicecan also be connected to the system bus via an interface, such as avideo adapter which can be part of, or connected to, a graphicsprocessor 112. In addition to the display, computers typically includeother peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers andprinters. The exemplary system of FIG. 1 can also include a hostadapter, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus, and an externalstorage device connected to the SCSI bus.

Computer system 100 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer.The remote computer may be another computer, a server, a router, anetwork PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycan include many or all of the elements described above relative tocomputer system 100.

When used in a LAN or WAN networking environment, computer system 100can be connected to the LAN or WAN through a network interface card 114(NIC). The NIC 114, which may be internal or external, can be connectedto the system bus. In a networked environment, program modules depictedrelative to the computer system 100, or portions thereof, may be storedin the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that thenetwork connections described here are exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications link between the computers may be used.Moreover, while it is envisioned that numerous embodiments of thepresent disclosure are particularly well-suited for computerizedsystems, nothing in this document is intended to limit the disclosure tosuch embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it illustrates an example wirelesstelecommunication device that can be a wireless communication device 200with a PTT button 202 that opens the direct communication to a targetdevice, e.g., an endpoint associated with an IP address. The wirelesscommunication device 200 is also shown as having a graphics display 204.The wireless communication device 200 can include a computer platform206 that can handle voice and data packets, execute softwareapplications, and transmit information across a wireless network. Thecomputer platform 206 includes, among other components, at least oneprocessor 208 such as an application-specific integrated circuit(“ASIC”) or a RISC processor such as those that implement the ARMarchitecture. The processor 208 is installed at the time of manufactureof the wireless communication device 200 and is not normallyupgradeable. The wireless communication device can include a GPS chipset(not shown) that can generate geographic information indicative of thelocation of the wireless communication device. The processor 208 orother microprocessor can execute an application programming interface(“API”) layer 210, which can include an operating system which cancontrol the hardware of the mobile device. An example of an operatingsystem is the “binary runtime environment for wireless” (BREW) softwaredeveloped by QUALCOMM® for wireless communication device platforms.

As shown here, the wireless communication device 200 can be a wirelesscommunication telephone, with a graphics display 204, but can also beany wireless device with a computer platform 206 as known in the art,such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager with a graphicsdisplay 204, or even a separate computer platform 206 that has awireless communication portal, and may otherwise have a wired connectionto a network or the Internet. Further, memory 212 can be comprised ofread-only or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EPROM, EEPROM, flashcards, or any memory common to computer platforms. The computer platform206 can also include a local database 214 for storage of softwareapplications not actively used in memory 212. The local database 214 istypically comprised of one or more flash memory cells, but can be anysecondary or tertiary storage device as known in the art, such asmagnetic media, EPROM, EEPROM, optical media, tape, or soft or harddisk. The graphics display 204 can present not only information aboutthe ongoing group call, but can also display geographic coordinates on amap as described in more detail in the following paragraphs.

The computer platform 206 can also include a direct communicationinterface 216 that can open a direct communication channel with anendpoint such as a group communication server of FIG. 3. The directcommunication interface 216 can also be part of the standardcommunication interface for the wireless communication device 200 whichordinarily carries the voice and data transmitted to and from thewireless communication device 200. The direct communication interface216 typically is comprised of hardware as is known in the art.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 2, additionally depicted is adiagram of an embodiment of the software layers of the group applicationclient that can include, but is not limited to, PTT functionality andGPS coordinate sharing functionality. In an embodiment, the computerplatform 206 in the wireless communication device environment caninclude a series of software “layers” developed on top of the MobileStation Modem (MSM) 218 and the Advanced Mobile Subscriber Software(AMSS) 220, developed by QUALCOMM®. In this example the underlying MSMchipset can implement the software protocol stack for the entire suiteof CDMA communication technologies that include CDMA2000 1X and CDMA20001xEV-DO. In this example the AMSS 220 can be configured to support amobile operating system layer 222, which in an embodiment is BREW®, alsodeveloped by QUALCOMM®. The mobile operating system layer 222 canprovide an application programming interface for chip or device-specificoperations, while providing an isolation layer that eliminates directcontact to the AMSS 220 and any OEM software on the mobile device 200.The mobile operating system layer 222 can enable application developmentthat uses wireless communication device features without having torewrite the application each time a new release of the device-specificsoftware is released.

In this example the mobile operating system 222 can support a PTT client226 that is configured to offer access to PTT services through anexternal interface, here shown at a PTT-aware UI 224. The PTT client 226can include all the functions required to enable mobile operating systemapplications, such as the GPS subsystem 228. In an embodiment, the PTTclient 226 can maintain access to PTT services, respond to communicationrequests, process all PTT-aware mobile operating system applicationsrequests for PTT services, process all outgoing PTT requests, collectand package vocoder packets for originating PTT talk spurts, and parsepackets of vocoder data for terminated PTT talk spurts.

The GPS subsystem 228 can be a mobile operating system-based applicationthat extends PTT services for access to a GPS service. The GPS subsystem228 can provide access to GPS services through an external interfacesuch as a GPS aware API that is an application that may be developedentirely as a mobile operating system-based application or used incombination with an AMSS 220 interface. The GPS subsystem 228 canadditionally be configured to handle incoming GPS coordinates and/orrequests from the group communication server 310 for coordinates asdescribed in more detail below. Other push-to-talk applications 230 orapplications than can receive and transmit data across the groupcommunication channel can also be resident on the platform.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a system 300 for sharing GPScoordinates among one or more wireless telecommunication devices in aPTT group 302, such as the wireless communication device 200, smartpager 304 and personal digital assistant (PDA) 306, with other wirelesscommunication devices. In the system 300, each wirelesstelecommunication device 200, 302, and 306 can be capable of selectivelydirectly communicating across the wireless communication network 308with a target set of one or more other wireless telecommunicationdevices. For example, the target set for wireless communicationtelephone 200 can be all devices in the communication group 302 or asubset thereof, such as pager 304 and PDA 306.

In an embodiment, the wireless telecommunication device (such aswireless communication telephone 200) can send a flag to at least thegroup communication server 310, e.g., one or more computers that canhave components similar to computer 100 of FIG. 1, which is present on aserver-side LAN 312 across the wireless network 308. The flag in thisexample can be used by the server to determine that the wireless deviceis present, i.e. accessible, on the wireless network 308. The groupcommunication server 310 can share this information with a set of targetwireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wirelesstelecommunication device or it can also share this with other computerdevices resident on the server-side LAN 312 or accessible across thewireless network 308. The group communication server 310 can have anattached or accessible database 314 to store the group identificationdata for the wireless devices and for example, GPS coordinates of thevarious devices operating in the wireless network 308. It should beappreciated that the number of computer components resident onserver-side LAN 312, or across the wireless network 308, or Internetgenerally, are not limited.

The group communication server 310 can establish point to point IP PTTchannels between devices in the group 302. A PTT channel can beestablished through a half-duplex channel (true or virtual) between thecommunicating wireless telecommunication device 200, 304, and/or 306 andthe one or more other wireless telecommunication devices of the targetset. Also, the group communication server 310 can attempt to bridge therequested direct communication with the target set if at least one ofthe wireless telecommunication devices of the target set have informedthe group communication server 310 of their presence on the wirelessnetwork 308.

The group communication server 310 can also inform the wirelesstelecommunication device 200, 304, and 306 of the inability to bridge adirect communication to the target set 302 upon none of the wirelesstelecommunication devices (or at least one) of the target set not havinginformed the group communication server 310 of their presence on thewireless network 308. Further, while the communication server 310 isshown here as having the attached database 314 of group identificationdata, the group communication server 310 can have group identity dataresident thereupon, and perform all storage functions described herein.

The group communication server 310 can also be configured to store GPScoordinates indicative of the location of the wireless devices in thetarget set 302. For example, the group communication server 310 canstore GPS coordinates in persistent storage, e.g., database 314, or theGPS coordinates can be temporarily stored in RAM as GPS coordinates flowfrom one wireless device to another. In various embodiments the groupcommunication server 310 can selectively obtain, e.g., by retrievingfrom memory or by receiving from the wireless devices, GPS coordinatesand selectively send the coordinates to other wireless devices of thegroup 302.

In overview, the system 300 can include at least one wirelesscommunication device, such as wireless communication telephone 200, thatcan be a member of a communication group 302 of wireless communicationdevices. The wireless communication devices in this example can beconfigured to communicate with each other or communicate as a groupacross a wireless communication network 308. In addition, at least oneof the wireless communication devices can be configured to selectivelysend data packages to other members of the communication group 302. Atleast one group communication server 310 is configured to storeinformation on communication groups 302 on the wireless communicationnetwork 308, the information including the identity of the specificmember wireless communication devices of one or more communicationgroups. The group communication server 310 can be further configured toselectively receive GPS coordinates from a sending wirelesscommunication device, such as wireless communication telephone 200, of acommunication group 302, store the GPS coordinates, and/or send the GPScoordinates to other members of the PTT group 302.

The wireless communication device 200, 304, 306 can send communicationgroup identification data to the group communication server 310 at thetime of sending GPS coordinates, e.g. a target list, and thus, thedatabase 314 can be configured to send or store the GPS coordinates toor for the member wireless communication devices identified in thecommunication group identification data based upon a variety of criteriaas is further discussed herein. Alternately, prior to the wirelesscommunication device sending data packages, the wireless communicationdevice 200, 304, and 306 can request member data for a communicationgroup 302 from the group communication server 310, and the server 310can send one or more addresses or communication group addresses to thewireless communication device 200, 304, and 306. In one embodiment, thegroup communication server 310 can filter the potential communicationgroups available based upon their member devices' capability to receiveGPS coordinates.

As is further described herein, the wireless communication device 200,304, and 306 can be engaged in a group communication with the memberwireless communication devices of the communication group 302, and senddata packages during the group communication in the same communicationsession, or independently therefrom. Alternately, the data packages canbe sent independently of the group-communication session.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary wireless network in a common cellulartelecommunication configuration. The wireless network in this examplecan include a series of communication servers 310 that controlcommunications between the wireless communication devices of set groupmembers (devices 200-A through D) in a PTT system. The wireless networkis merely exemplary and can include any system whereby remote modulescommunicate over-the-air between and among each other and/or between andamong components of a wireless network, including, without limitation,wireless network carriers and/or servers. A series of communicationservers 310 are connected to a group communication server LAN 312.Wireless telephones can request packet data sessions from the groupcommunication server(s) 310 using a data service option.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 4, each group communicationserver(s) 310 can be coupled to an authentication, authorization, andaccounting server “AAA” 428 to authenticate the wireless communicationdevices 200, 304, and/or 306. The AAA 428 can be coupled to a databaseoperable to store information such as user accounts and privileges. Inthis example the group communication server(s) 310 can be connected to awireless service provider's packet data service node (PDSN) such as PDSN414, shown here resident on a carrier network 416. Each PDSN 414 caninterface with a base station controller 418 of a base station 420through a packet control function (PCF) 422. The wireless network 308can control messages (generally in the form of data packets) sent to amessaging service controller (“MSC”) 424. The carrier network 308 inthis example can communicate with the MSC 424 by a network, the Internetand/or POTS (“plain ordinary telephone system”). Typically, the networkor Internet connection between the wireless network 308 and the MSC 424transfers data, and the POTS transfers voice information. The MSC 424can be connected to one or more base stations 420. In a similar mannerto the carrier network, the MSC 424 is typically connected to thebranch-to-source (BTS) 426 by both the network and/or Internet for datatransfer and POTS for voice information. The BTS 426 ultimatelybroadcasts and receives messages wirelessly to and from the wirelessdevices, such as cellular telephones 200-A through D, by short messagingservice (“SMS”), or other over-the-air methods known in the art. Itshould also be noted that carrier boundaries and/or PTT operator networkboundaries do not inhibit or prohibit the sharing of data as describedherein.

Cellular telephones and wireless communication telecommunicationdevices, such as wireless telephone 200, are being manufactured withincreased computing capabilities and are becoming tantamount to personalcomputers and hand-held PDAs. These “smart” cellular telephones allowsoftware developers to create software applications that aredownloadable and executable on the processor of the wireless device. Thewireless device, such as cellular telephone 200, can download many typesof “data packages,” which are discrete segments of computer code, suchas applications, web pages, applets, MIDlets, multi-media, picture,games and simple data. In wireless devices that have designated a groupcommunication group 302 (such as depicted by FIG. 3), the wirelesscommunication device can directly connect with the other member of theset and engage in voice and data communication. However, such directgroup communications will occur through, or at the control of, the groupcommunication server 310. All data packets of the devices do notnecessarily have to travel through the group communication server 310itself, but the group communication server 310 must be able toultimately control the communication because it will typically be theonly server-side component that is aware of and/or can retrieve theidentity of the members of the communication group, or direct theidentity of the members of the communication group 302 to anothercomputer device.

The following are a series of flowcharts depicting operationalprocedures. The flowcharts are organized such that the initialflowcharts present implementations via an overall viewpoint. Thosehaving skill in the art can appreciate that the style of presentationutilized herein, e.g., beginning with a presentation of a flowchart(s)presenting an overall view and thereafter providing additions to and/orfurther details in subsequent flowcharts, generally allows for a rapidand easy understanding of the various operational procedures.

Turning now to FIG. 5, it illustrates an operational procedure 500including operations 500, 502, 504, and 506. Operation 500 begins theoperational procedure and operation 502 depicts storing, in memory,geographic coordinate information for a first wireless device. Forexample, and referring to FIG. 3, depicted is a group communicationserver 310 that can include components similar to those of FIG. 1, e.g.,a logical processor 102, ram 104, etc. In this example logical processor102 can execute a PTT application 124 and a location engine 128 thatsupports the distribution of geographic coordinates during PTT sessions.The location engine 128 can be executed and geographic coordinates ofwireless devices in, for example, a PTT group 302 can be stored incomputer readable media 110. In an example embodiment the geographiccoordinate information can include GPS coordinates, A-GPS coordinates,or information that can be used to generate coordinates. As used herein,GPS coordinates and A-GPS coordinates can be jointly referred to as GPScoordinates for ease of understanding. The GPS coordinates can bedetermined by a global positioning system (GPS) of satellites thattransmits signals that allow GPS receivers to determine their location,their velocity, and the current time. Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is atechnology used by mobile devices to improve the reliability of GPS inenvironments that have poor signal conditions. An A-GPS receiver canimprove reliability over a GPS system by using assistance from a mobilenetwork that can acquire satellite information and perform calculationson behalf of the mobile device.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 5, operation 504 depictsreceiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channelsetup request, the request including information that identifies thesecond wireless device. For example, a network adaptor 114 of the groupcommunication server 310 can receive a group communication channel setuprequest, e.g., a message. For example, and referring to FIG. 4, the userof the device 200-A may determine that they want to have a PTTconversation with a user of a target device 200-B and request a push totalk session. The call setup request can contain, for instance, thetarget device's address. The call setup request may also be sent with aDataOverSignaling Access channel message. The network adaptor 114 canprocess the request and send an interrupt to the processor 102indicating that a new message has been received. The processor 102 canrun the PTT server application 124 and process the group communicationrequest.

In a specific embodiment the call setup request message can be embodiedin a session initiation protocol (SIP) message. The message can includeXML for example that identifies the mobile device, e.g., telephonenumber, mobile subscriber identifier, username/password, forauthorization purposes and information that identifies the secondwireless device, e.g., a telephone number of the second wireless device,an IP address, etc.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 5, operation 506 depicts sendinggeographic coordinates information for the second wireless device to thefirst wireless device. For example, and referring to FIG. 4, geographiccoordinates information, e.g., GPS coordinates or information that canbe processed by the first device to determine the position of the seconddevice (device 200-B), can be sent from the group communication server310 to the first device, e.g., device 200-A. For example, processor 102of the group communication server 310 can execute the location engine128 that supports the distribution of geographic coordinates during PTTsessions and the geographic coordinates stored in memory can be sent tothe originating device. For example, the location engine 128 can run andreceive information that identifies the second wireless device. Thelocation engine 128 can then search database 314 for geographicinformation for the second wireless device. The location engine 128 canpass the geographic information to the PTT application which can sendthe information to the first wireless device.

In an embodiment the group communication server 310 can send thegeographic coordinate information in a message that identifies that thechannel was opened. For example, in one specific example the groupcommunication server 310 can assign the session an identifier and sendan INVITE message to the wireless device 200-A indicating that thechannel has been opened and information that identifies a floor controlidentifier. In this example the geographic coordinate information can beembedded within the INVITE message and sent to the wireless device 200-Afor example.

In an embodiment where a PTT session is established between manywireless devices, e.g., multiple targets, the geographic coordinates foreach target can be sent to the originating device. In this example anoperator of an originating device can quickly determine where eachtarget is located.

Turning now to FIG. 6, it illustrates an alternative embodiment of theoperational procedure of FIG. 5 including additional operations 608-616.As illustrated by the figure, operation 608 shows that in an embodimentsending geographic coordinate information for the second wireless deviceto the first wireless device can include sending the geographiccoordinate information for the second wireless device to the firstdevice in a floor grant message. For example, as stated above, thedevice that has the floor can use the group communication channel tosend data to the group communication server 310. The PTT application 124of the group communication server 310 can be executed to insure thatonly one device has the floor at any given time by implementing a floorcontrol protocol. The protocol can include methods for notifying devicesthat no device controls the floor, notifying devices that a device hasreleased the floor, receiving floor requests, notifying devices that adevice has been granted the floor, etc. In this example embodiment thePTT application 124 can receive information that GPS coordinates are tobe shared during certain floor control messages. In this instance, whena floor grant message is sent to devices it can include the GPScoordinate of the second device 200-B. The processor 102 of the servercan run the PTT application 124 that can obtain location informationfrom the location engine 128. The PTT application can then generate afloor grant message, e.g., a SIP message, that includes GPS coordinatesand send the message to the first device 200-A

Continuing with the description of FIG. 6, operation 610 shows that inan embodiment receiving the group communication channel setup requestcan include receiving a group communication channel setup request thatincludes a request for the location of the second wireless device. Forexample, in an embodiment the network adaptor 114 of the groupcommunication server 310 can receive a setup request message thatincludes a request for the target's geographic coordinates. Similar tothat described above, the setup request message can be embodied in amessage. When the PTT button is pressed the processor 208 can beinterrupted and directed to execute the PTT-client 226. The PTT-client226 can configure the processor 102 to generate a message addressed tothe group communication server 310. The message can include XML forexample that identifies the mobile device, e.g., telephone number,mobile subscriber identifier, username/password, for authorizationpurposes, the identity of the second wireless device, and a request forGPS coordinates.

Continuing with the description of operation 612, it shows that in anembodiment receiving the group communication channel setup request caninclude, but is not limited to receiving a group communication channelsetup request that includes geographic coordinate information indicatingthe location of the first wireless device. For example, in an embodimentthe group communication channel setup request message can include thefirst wireless device's coordinates. For example, the GPS subsystem 228of the device can obtain the GPS coordinates from, for example, a GPSchipset and make the coordinates available to a PTT aware UI 226. Whenthe PTT button 202 is pressed the processor 208 can be interrupted anddirected to execute the PTT-client 226. The PTT-client 226 can obtainthe coordinates and configure the processor 102 to generate a messageaddressed to the group communication server 310. The message can includeXML for example that identifies the mobile device, e.g., telephonenumber, mobile subscriber identifier, username/password, forauthorization purposes, the identity of the second wireless device, andGPS coordinates indicative of the location of the first wireless device.

Turning to operation 614, it illustrates receiving geographic coordinateinformation indicating the location of the first wireless device via anestablished group communication channel; and sending the geographiccoordinate information indicating the location of the first wirelessdevice to the second wireless device via the established groupcommunication channel. For example, in an embodiment a PTT communicationchannel can be established between the first and second device (device200-A and 200-B). In this example embodiment the network adaptor 114 ofthe group communication server 310 can receive geographic coordinateinformation for the originating device and send the geographiccoordinate information to the target via the established PTT channel. Inthis example the group communication server 310 can encode thegeographic coordinates into one or more packets and send the packets tothe second device.

In a specific embodiment the geographic coordinate information can besent while the first device has the floor. For example, a user of thefirst device can request the floor. A floor grant message can bereceived by the first device and the GPS coordinates can be sent to thegroup communication server 310 during the next talk burst sent by thefirst device. That is, in this example GPS coordinates may be sent usinga single floor control mechanism that is used for both the PTT call andthe sharing of GPS information. The GPS subsystem 228 in this examplerequest that the PTT client 226 add GPS coordinates to the existing PTTcall. The add-GPS request can contain an indication that the data is tobe shared using the same floor control mechanism as the PTT Client 226.The PTT Client 226 can then send the GPS coordinates during the nexttalk burst to the group communication server 310. Once the server 310receives the coordinates they can be sent to the target device and/orstored in the server 310.

In another specific example the GPS coordinates can be sent using adifferent floor control mechanism than the one used for the PTT call. Inthis example the GPS coordinates are sent independently from the voicedata over another PTT channel. For example, in an embodiment the mobiledevice 200 can send a request to the group communication server 310 toobtain an additional group communication channel in order to share, forexample, GPS coordinates. In this scenario, a group communicationchannel can be opened between the first and second wireless device andthe first wireless device can receive a request via the PTT aware UI 224indicating that GPS coordinates are to be shared. In this example thecoordinates can be shared using a separate floor control mechanism thanthe PTT call, i.e. independent of the floor control mechanism being usedfor the PTT call, and send a request to the PTT client 226 to add a newchannel. A new channel can be assigned by the group communication server310 and a signal can be sent to the target device. The PTT client 226 ofthe target can receive the signal and assign a new port for sending orreceiving GPS coordinates and then send the new port identifier in anacknowledgement to the group communication server 310. After the newchannel is successfully added to the PTT call the originator can requestthe floor, e.g., access to the half-duplex channel, to send GPScoordinates. The GPS client 228 can be configured to notify the PTTclient 226 that GPS coordinates have been added and the PTT client cansend a PTT floor request to the group communication server that includethe floor identifier assigned to the additional channel. The groupcommunication server 310 can verify that the floor for the additionalchannel is available prior to granting the floor request. The PTT client226 can receive a signal indicating that the floor was granted and thenthe transceiver of the originator can send GPS coordinates to theserver. Once the server 310 receives the coordinates, they can be sentto the target device and/or stored in the server.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 6, operation 616 illustratessending a group communication channel setup request to the secondwireless device, the group communication channel setup request includinggeographic coordinate information indicating the location of the firstwireless device. For example, in an embodiment the group communicationserver 310 can execute the PTT application 124 and a network adaptor 114can be configured to send a communication channel setup request to thesecond wireless device 200-B. In this example the communication channelsetup request message can include geographic coordinates of the firstwireless device 200-A and a request to assign a port to service a PTTsession. In a PTT example, the group communication server 310 can locatethe target by looking up the IP address associated with the target anddiscovering which base station 420 has last serviced the wireless device200-8 associated with the IP address. The group communication server 310can send a message to the base station 420 and the base station 420 cansend a message via a control channel to the second wireless device200-B. The PTT client 226 of the second wireless device can receive thesignal and assign a new port for the PTT session and then send the newport identifier in an acknowledgement to the group communication server310. In this example the PTT client 226 of the second wireless device200-B can receive the message and parse the message to discover thegeographic coordinates.

Turning now to FIG. 7, it illustrates an operational procedure forpracticing aspects of the present disclosure including operations 700,702, 704, 706, and 708. Operation 700 begins the operational procedureand operation 702 illustrates receiving a group communication channelsetup request from an originating device. For example, a network adaptor114 of the group communication server 310 can receive a groupcommunication channel setup request message. For example the user of thedevice 200 may determine that they want to have a PTT conversation witha user of a target device, e.g., device 304 of FIG. 3, and request apush to talk session. The call setup request message can contain, forinstance, the target device's address. The call setup request may alsobe sent with a DataOverSignaling Access channel message. The networkadaptor 114 can process the request and send an interrupt to theprocessor 102 indicating that a new message has been received. Theprocessor 102 can run the PTT server application 124 and process thegroup communication request.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 7, operation 704 shows sending agroup communication channel setup request to a target device, the groupcommunication channel setup request including a request for geographiccoordinates indicative of the location of the target device. Continuingwith the example, the group communication server 310 can receive therequest message and send a call setup request message to the targetdevice. For example, the group communication server 310 can includecircuitry, e.g., processor(s) configured by the PTT application 124,configured to determine where in the network the target device islocated. The group communication server 310 can receive the informationand can route a call setup message to the base station controller 418currently servicing the target device. The base station controller 418can then wirelessly send a call setup request message to the targetdevice over a control channel directing the target device to assign aport to service the PTT session. The target device can be configured to,for example, enter into a PTT session or deny the request in response touser input or timeout. In this example the message can include therequest for the target's GPS coordinates. In a specific embodimentmessage sent to the target can be a SIP invitation message. The messagecan include XML that identifies the originating device, e.g., telephonenumber, and a request for GPS coordinates.

Turning to operation 706 it depicts receiving a group communicationchannel acknowledgement signal from the target device, theacknowledgment signal including the geographic coordinates indicative ofthe location of the target device. Continuing with the example, anetwork adaptor 114 of the group communication server 310 can receive anACK message that acknowledges that the target is willing to enter into aPTT session. The message can include the geographic coordinates. The PTTapplication 124 can be run and the geographic coordinates can be sent tothe location engine 128 which can store the coordinates in a database314. In an embodiment the target device can generate the ACK messagewhich can include the GPS coordinates of the target device. For example,a SIP ACK message can be sent from the target device that can include anXML field that has the GPS coordinates. For example, when the call setuprequest message is received by the target the PTT aware UI 224 can beexecuted by processor 208 and a user interface can display an option toenter into a PTT session, an option to enter into a PTT session andshare GPS coordinates, and/or an option to deny the request to enterinto the PTT session. In the instance where the target device receivesthe request to enter into the PTT session and share GPS coordinates, thePTT client 226 can obtain GPS coordinates generated by a GPS chipset andembed the coordinates in the invite accept message. In this example themessage can include the GPS coordinates and the coordinates can bereceived by and, for example, stored in memory of the groupcommunication server 310.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 7, operation 708 shows sending asignal indicating that a group communication channel has beenestablished to the originating device, the signal indicating that thegroup communication channel has been established including thegeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the target device.Continuing with the example, the group communication server 310 can sendcan the geographic coordinates in a message that identifies that thechannel was opened. For example, in one specific example the groupcommunication server 310 can assign the session an identifier and sendan INVITE message to the wireless device 200 indicating that the channelhas been opened and information that identifies a floor controlidentifier. In this example the geographic coordinates can be embeddedwithin the INVITE message and send to the wireless device 200. Forexample, the PTT application 124 can send a request for the geographiccoordinates to the location engine 128. The geographic engine 128 can berun and the coordinates can be retrieved from the database 314 forexample. The PTT application 124 can generate an INVITE message thatincludes a field including the geographic coordinates and a flag thatindicates that the message includes geographic coordinates.

Turning now to FIG. 8, it illustrates an alternative embodiment of theoperational procedure of 700 including the additional operations810-814. In an alternative embodiment of the operational procedure ofFIG. 7, the operational procedure can include operation 810 which showsreceiving, via a group communication channel, geographic coordinatesindicative of the location of the originating device; and sending thegeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the originatingdevice to the target device. For example, in an example embodiment thatincludes operation 810 a group communication channel can be establishedbetween the originating and target devices. In this example embodimentthe network adaptor 114 of the group communication server 310 canreceive geographic coordinates for the originating device and send thegeographic coordinates to the target via, for example, the establishedgroup communication channel, a different group communication channel, anemail, a text message, etc. In a specific example, the network adaptor114 can receive one or more packets of information from the originatingdevice. The one or more packets can include the geographic coordinates.In this example the network adaptor 114 can store the coordinates incomputer readable media 110 and send an interrupt to processor 102. Theprocessor 102 can run the PTT application 124 and can obtain thegeographic coordinates. The coordinates may be stored in database 114and/or the coordinates can be placed in packets and sent to the targetdevice.

In a specific embodiment the geographic coordinates can be sent whilethe originator device has the floor. For example, a user of theoriginator device can request the floor. A floor grant message can bereceived and the device 200 can receive a request via the PTT aware UI224 indicating that GPS coordinates are to be shared during a subsequenttalk burst. In another specific example the GPS coordinates can be sentusing a different floor control mechanism than the one used for the PTTcall. In this example the GPS coordinates are sent independently fromthe voice data over another PTT channel.

In yet another example the GPS coordinates can be received via the groupcommunication channel, and sent to the target device in an email ortext. For example, the target can be associated with an email account.The group communication server 310 can receive the GPS coordinatesduring a PTT spurt and the processor 102 can execute the PTT application124 that can determine, for example, whether the target device canreceive GPS coordinates via a PTT channel and/or whether a flag has beenset indicating that the user of the device would want to receive GPScoordinates via a different mechanism. In this example, the PTTapplication 124 can be executed by the processor 102 and the processor102 can determine an email address associated with the target. Theprocessor 102 can then be configured to send the GPS coordinates to anemail server. The email server can then send the GPS coordinates to theemail address associated with the target. Similarly, instead of an emailaccount, the PTT application can be executed by a processor 102 and adetermination can be made that the target should be sent the GPScoordinates via text message. In this example the processor 102 can thenbe configured to send the GPS coordinates to a text message server whichcan send a text message to the target.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 8, operation 812 illustratesreceiving geographic coordinates indicative of the location of theoriginating device from the originating device during a floor request.For example, a floor request message sent from the originating devicecan be received by a network adaptor 114. In this example the messagecan include the geographic coordinates indicative of the location of theoriginating device. In a specific example, the network adaptor 114 canreceive one or more packets of information from the originating devicethat include a floor grant message having geographic coordinates. Inthis example the network adaptor 114 can store message in computerreadable media 110 and send an interrupt to processor 102. The processor102 can run the PTT application 124 and the PTT application 124 canparse the message to obtain the geographic coordinates. The PTTapplication 124 can then be run and the coordinates can be stored in thedatabase 314. Once the server 310 receives the coordinates, they can besent to the target device.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 8, operation 814 illustratesreceiving the group communication channel setup request from anoriginating device, the group communication channel setup requestincluding geographic coordinates indicative of the location of theoriginating device. For example, in an embodiment the groupcommunication server 310 can receive a call setup request message thatincludes the originator's geographic coordinates. For example, the GPSsubsystem 228 can obtain the GPS coordinates from a GPS chipset and makethe coordinates available to a PTT aware UI 226. When the PTT button ispressed the processor 208 can be interrupted and directed to execute thePTT-client 226. The PTT-client 226 can obtain the coordinates andconfigure the processor 102 to generate a message addressed to the groupcommunication server 310. The message can include XML for example thatidentifies the mobile device, e.g., telephone number, mobile subscriberidentifier, username/password, for authorization purposes, the identityof the second wireless device, and GPS coordinates indicative of thelocation of the first wireless device.

Turning now to FIG. 9, it illustrates an operational procedure forpracticing aspects of the present disclosure including operations900-906. Operation 900 begins the operational procedure and operation902 shows establishing a group communication channel between a targetwireless device and an originating wireless device. For example, in anembodiment a PTT communication channel can be established between theoriginating and target device. In this example embodiment the networkadaptor 114 of the group communication server 310 can receive a requestto setup a channel. A PTT application 124 can be executed by a processor102 and the communications server 310 can perform PTT call setupfunctions, including locating the target, opening up IP channels betweenvarious IP endpoints in the network 308, applying call restrictions,selecting a vocoder, etc. Various messages can be sent back and forthbetween the devices and the group communication server 310 during thechannel setup process.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 9, operation 904 shows receivinggeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the target devicevia the group communication channel. For example, a group communicationchannel can be established between the originating and target device. Inthis example embodiment the network adaptor 114 of the groupcommunication server 310 can receive geographic coordinates for thetarget device. In a specific example, the network adaptor 114 canreceive one or more packets of information from the target device. Theone or more packets can include the geographic coordinates. In thisexample the network adaptor 114 can store the coordinates in computerreadable media 110 and send an interrupt to processor 102. The processor102 can run the PTT application 124 and can obtain the geographiccoordinates. The coordinates may be stored in database 114 and/or thecoordinates can be placed in packets and send to the originator device.

In a specific embodiment the geographic coordinates can be sent whilethe target device has the floor. For example, a user of the targetdevice can request the floor. A floor grant message can be received andthe device can receive a request via the PTT aware UI 224 indicatingthat GPS coordinates are to be shared during a subsequent talk burst. Inanother specific example the GPS coordinates can be sent using adifferent floor control mechanism than the one used for the PTT call. Inthis example the GPS coordinates are sent independently from the voicedata over another PTT channel.

Operation 906 shows sending the geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the target device to the originating wireless device via thegroup communication channel. Once the coordinates are received by thegroup communication server 310 they can be sent to the originatingdevice via the group communication channel. The GPS coordinates can beprocessed and displayed by the originating device.

Turning to FIG. 10, it illustrates an operational procedure forpracticing aspects of the present disclosure including operations1000-1006. Operation 1000 begins the procedure and operation 1002 showsestablishing a group communication channel between a target wirelessdevice and an originating wireless device. For example, a processor 102of a group communication server 310 can execute instructions thatconfigure it to establish a group communication channel between a targetand originating device. A PTT application 124 can be executed by aprocessor 102 and the communications server 310 can perform PTT callsetup functions, including locating the target, opening up IP channelsbetween various IP endpoints in the network 308, applying callrestrictions, selecting a vocoder, etc. Various messages can be sentback and forth between the devices and the group communication server310 during the channel setup process.

Operation 1004 shows receiving geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the originating wireless device via the group communicationchannel. For example, a group communication channel can be establishedbetween the originating and target device. In this example embodimentthe network adaptor 114 of the group communication server 310 canreceive geographic coordinates for the originating device. In a specificexample, the network adaptor 114 can receive one or more packets ofinformation from the originating device. The one or more packets caninclude the geographic coordinates. In this example the network adaptor114 can store the coordinates in computer readable media 110 and send aninterrupt to processor 102. The processor 102 can run the PTTapplication 124 and can obtain the geographic coordinates. Thecoordinates may be stored in database 114 and/or the coordinates can beplaced in packets and send to the originator device.

Operation 1006 shows sending the geographic coordinates indicative ofthe location of the wireless device to the target wireless device viathe group communication channel. For example, once the coordinates arereceived by the group communication server 310 they can be sent to thetarget device via the group communication channel. Subsequently the GPScoordinates can be processed and displayed by the target device.

Turning to FIG. 11, it illustrates an operational procedure forpracticing aspects of the present disclosure including operations1100-1106. Operation 1100 begins the operational procedure and operation1102 shows storing geographic coordinates indicative of the location ofthe wireless device. For example, and turning to FIG. 2, memory 212,e.g., RAM or flash ROM, can store geographic coordinates indicative ofthe location of the wireless device 200. For example, the geographiccoordinates can be GPS coordinates obtained by a chipset built into thedevice 200. A GPS subsystem 228 can process information generated by thechipset and store GPS coordinates in memory 212.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 11, operation 1104 showssending, via a wireless signal, a group communications channel setuprequest to a group communication server, the request includinginformation that identifies a target device and the geographiccoordinates. For example, a transceiver of wireless device 200 canwirelessly send a request for a group communication channel to a basestation controller 418 of FIG. 4. In this example, the request canidentify a target and include the geographic coordinates. For example, aPTT-aware UI 224 can be executed by processor 208 and rendered on ascreen 204. The device 200 can receive a request to enter into a PTTsession via a touchpad and a target can be selected from a contact book,e.g., a program that uses a data structure stored in memory 212.

In the same, or another embodiment the device 200 can receive a requestto send GPS coordinates in a setup request message. In this case, thePTT client 226 can receive information that identifies the target andreceive the geographic coordinates from memory 212. The PTT client 226can send information to the transceiver which will wirelessly transmitthe information to the group communication server 310. In an embodimentthe PTT client 226 can generate a call setup message addressed to the IPaddress of the group communication server 310. When the PTT button 202is pressed the processor 208 can be interrupted and directed to executethe PTT-client 226. The PTT-client 226 can configure the processor 208to generate a message addressed to the group communication server 310.The message can include XML for example that identifies the mobiledevice, e.g., telephone number, mobile subscriber identifier,username/password, for authorization purposes, information thatidentifies the second wireless device, and GPS coordinates.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 11, operation 1106 showsreceiving a signal indicating that the group communications channel hasbeen established. Continuing with the example, the PTT client 226 canreceive a signal from the group communication server 310 which indicatesthat the group communication channel has been opened between theoriginating device and the target device. For example, the transceivercan receive an INVITE message indicating that the channel has beenopened and information that identifies a floor control identifier. Theprocessor 208 can be interrupted and execute the PTT client 226. Theprocessor can then receive the signal and assign a new port for sendingor receiving PTT call spurts.

Turning to FIG. 12, it illustrates an alternative embodiment of theoperational procedure of FIG. 11 including operations 1210-1214.Operation 1210 shows receiving geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the target device; and displaying the geographic coordinatesindicative of the location of the target device. For example,transceiver of device 200 can receive geographic coordinates thatidentify the location of the target and display 204 can display thecoordinates. Various transmission mechanisms can be used to send thegeographic coordinates to the device 200. For example, the GPScoordinates can be received via a control channel or a groupcommunication channel. The coordinates can also be received via email ortext. The device 200 can be configured to receive the coordinates anddisplay the coordinates on the user interface. In this example theprocessor 208 can be interrupted with the geographic coordinateinformation is received and the PTT-aware UI 224 can be run. Theprocessor 208 can render on a display 204 the location of each devicethat is in the PTT session with device 200. In the same or anotherembodiment a user interface notification can identify the target devicethat currently has the floor.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 12, it additionally includesoperation 1212 which shows receiving, via the group communicationschannel, geographic coordinates indicative of the location of the targetdevice; and displaying the geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the target device. For example, transceiver of device 200can receive geographic coordinates that identify the location of thetarget and display 204 can display the coordinates. In this example thecoordinates can be received over the group communication channel. Forexample, the target can obtain the floor and send geographic coordinatesto the originator via the floor or independently from the voice floorover another PTT channel The device 200 can be configured to receive thecoordinates and display the coordinates on display 204. In this examplethe processor 208 can be interrupted with the geographic coordinateinformation is received and the PTT-aware UI 224 can be run. Theprocessor 208 can render on a display the location of each device thatis in the PTT session with device 200. In the same or another embodimenta user interface notification can identify the target device thatcurrently has the floor.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 12, operation 1214 showsreceiving a signal indicating that the target device has the floor, thesignal indicating that the target device has the floor includinggeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the target device.For example, the floor grant message can be received by the device 200indicating that the target has the floor. In this example the GPScoordinates for the target device can be included in the message thatidentifies that the target has the floor. For example, when the targetrequested the floor the PTT application 124 of the group communicationserver 310 could have been executed to insure that only one device hasthe floor at any given time by implementing a floor control protocol.The PTT application 124 can grant the target the floor and send amessage to the originator that indicates that the target obtained thefloor. In this example embodiment the PTT application 124 can be run andreceive information that GPS coordinates are to be shared during certainfloor control messages. In this instance, when a floor grant message issent to the originator it can include the GPS coordinate of the targetdevice. The processor 102 of the server can run the PTT application 124that can obtain location information from the location engine 128. ThePTT application can then generate a floor grant message, e.g., a SIPmessage, that includes the GPS coordinates and send the message to theoriginator. The originator device can receive the message and thePTT-client 226 can be run. The message can be parsed and the coordinatescan be obtained.

FIG. 13 illustrates an operational procedure for practicing aspects ofthe present disclosure including operations 1300-1304. Operation 1300begins the operational procedure, and operation 1302 illustrates sendinga request for a group communications channel to a group communicationserver, the request including information that identifies a targetwireless device. For example, a transceiver of wireless device 200 canwirelessly send a setup message for a group communication channel to abase station 420 of FIG. 4. In a specific embodiment the setup requestmessage can be embedded in SIP message. The PTT-client 226 can have anIP address of the group communication server 310 stored in memory 212.When the PTT button is pressed the processor 208 can be interrupted anddirected to execute the PTT-client 226. The PTT-client 226 can configurethe processor 208 to generate a message addressed to the groupcommunication server 310. The message can include XML for example thatidentifies the mobile device, e.g., telephone number, mobile subscriberidentifier, username/password, for authorization purposes andinformation that identifies the second wireless device.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 13, it additionally showsoperation 1304 which illustrates receiving, via an established groupcommunications channel, geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the target wireless device from the group communicationserver. For example, a transceiver of the wireless device 200 canreceive geographic coordinates for the target via the groupcommunication channel. In this example the transceiver can store thecoordinates in a buffer and interrupt a processor. The processor 208 canrun the PTT client 226 and the client can receive the information fromthe buffer and store the coordinates in memory 212.

In a specific embodiment the geographic coordinates can be sent whilethe target device has the floor. For example, a user of the targetdevice can request the floor. A floor grant message can be received andthe device can receive a request via the PTT aware UI 224 indicatingthat GPS coordinates are to be shared during a subsequent talk burst. Inanother specific example the GPS coordinates can be sent using adifferent floor control mechanism than the one used for the PTT call. Inthis example the GPS coordinates are sent independently from the voicedata over another PTT channel.

Turning now to FIG. 14, it illustrates an alternative embodiment of theoperational procedure of FIG. 13 including operations 1406 and 1408. Asillustrated by the figure, operation 1406 shows sending a requestmessage for a floor to the group communication server, the requestmessage including geographic coordinates indicative of the location ofan originating wireless device. For example, a transceiver of wirelessdevice 200 can wirelessly send a request for a floor of the groupcommunication channel to a base station 420 of FIG. 4. In this example,the request can include geographic coordinates of the sending device.For example, a PTT-aware UI 224 can be executed by processor 208 andrendered on a screen 204. In this example, the PTT aware UI 224 canreceive a request to send PTT coordinates via the floor request messageand the PTT client 226 can be configured to obtain GPS coordinates fromGPS subsystem when the PTT button is pressed. When the PTT button 202 ispressed the GPS client 228 can be configured to notify the PTT client226 that GPS coordinates have been added. The PTT client 226 can send aPTT floor request to the group communication server 310 that includesthe floor identifier assigned to the channel.

Continuing with the description of the figure, operation 1408 showsdisplaying a request for geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of an originating wireless device; receiving input authorizingthe request for the geographic coordinates indicative of the location ofthe originating wireless device; and sending the geographic coordinatesindicative of the location of the originating wireless device to thegroup communication server. For example, in an embodiment the device 200can display a request for geographic coordinates. For example, PTTclient 226 can receive a signal from the group communication server 310which includes a request for GPS coordinates. The PTT client 226 can beexecuted by processor 208 and the request can be displayed on the userinterface. The wireless device 200 can receive input via a touchpad orthe like that indicates that the GPS coordinates can be shared. In thisinstance the GPS subsystem 228 can be executed and the currentcoordinates can be sent to the group communication server 310 via, forexample, a group communication channel or other data channel.

Turning now to FIG. 15, it illustrates an operational procedure forpracticing aspects of the present disclosure including operations1500-1506. Operation 1500 begins the operational procedure and operation1502 shows maintaining a group communications channel establishedbetween a wireless device and a remote wireless device. For example, inan embodiment a wireless device 200 can maintain a group communicationchannel that exists between the device and a remote wireless device. Forexample, in an embodiment a channel can be opened and assigned an IPport and information can be stored in memory 212. A PTT client 226 canbe executed by a processor 208 and the processor 208 can listen forsignals on the port. Session information, identifiers, and informationthat identifies another device in the session can be stored in a datastructure in memory 212.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 15, operation 1504 showsreceiving geographic coordinates indicative of the location of theremote wireless device. For example, the wireless device 200 canmaintain a group communication channel and receive geographiccoordinates for a remote wireless device. For example a transceiver ofthe wireless device 200 can receive GPS coordinates. The transceiver canstore the GPS coordinates in a buffer and send an interrupt to theprocessor 208. The processor 208 can be configured to run interrupthandler code that direct it to run the PTT client 226. The PTT client226 can receive the GPS coordinates from the buffer and store thecoordinates in memory 212.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 15, operation 1506 showsdisplaying the geographic coordinates. For example, the device 200 canbe configured to receive the coordinates and display the coordinates onthe display 204. In a specific example the processor 208 can execute thePTT client 226 and can send the coordinates to the PTT UI 224. The PTTUI can be executed and the processor can display the coordinates ondisplay 204. In this example the display 204 can display the location ofeach device that is in the PTT session with device 200. In the same oranother embodiment the screen can also display each target and identifywhich one currently has the floor. In an example embodiment displayingthe geographic coordinates can include displaying an icon at thelocation defined by the geographic coordinates. In this example the PTTUI 224 can render a map and overlay the icon on the geographiccoordinates. The display may also be configured to place identificationinformation on the map to show which device the icon is associated with.

Turning to FIG. 16, it shows an alternative embodiment of theoperational procedure of FIG. 15 including operations 1608-1618.Operation 1608 shows receiving a signal indicating that the remotewireless device has the floor; and modifying a displayed icon thatrepresents the geographic coordinates. For example the transceiver ofwireless device 200 can receive a signal indicating that the remotewireless device has the floor. For example, in an embodiment the groupcommunication server 310 can be configured to receive floor grantrequests and grant them. In the instance that a floor grant requestmessage is received from a device the group communication server 310 canin an embodiment grant the request and send signals to the other devicesin the group that indicates that the floor is taken. In this case thePTT-aware UI 224 can receive information that the remote wireless devicehas the floor and the processor 208 can be configured to modify an iconthat represents the position of the remote wireless device by, forexample, changing the color of the icon, configuring the icon to flash,changing the size or shape of the icon, etc.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 16 operation 1610 showsreceiving the geographic coordinates indicative of the location of theremote wireless device via the group communications channel. Forexample, a transceiver of the wireless device 200 can receive geographiccoordinates for the remote wireless device via the group communicationchannel. In this example the transceiver can store the coordinates in abuffer and interrupt a processor. The processor can run the PTT client226 and the client can receive the information from the buffer and storethe coordinates in memory 212.

In a specific embodiment the geographic coordinates can be sent whilethe remote wireless device has the floor. For example, a user of theremote wireless device can request the floor. A floor grant message canbe received and the device can receive a request via the PTT aware UI224 indicating that GPS coordinates are to be shared during a subsequenttalk burst. In another specific example the GPS coordinates can be sentusing a different floor control mechanism than the one used for the PTTcall. In this example the GPS coordinates are sent independently fromthe voice data over another PTT channel.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 16, operation 1612 showsreceiving the geographic coordinates indicative of the location of theremote wireless device via a floor grant message. For example, the floorgrant message can be received by the device 200 indicating that thetarget has the floor. In this example the GPS coordinates for the targetdevice can be included in the message that identifies that the targethas the floor. For example, when the target requested the floor the PTTapplication 124 of the group communication server 310 could have beenexecuted to insure that only one device has the floor at any given timeby implementing a floor control protocol. The PTT application 124 cangrant the target the floor and send a message to the originator thatindicates that the target obtained the floor. In this example embodimentthe PTT application 124 can be run and receive information that GPScoordinates are to be shared during certain floor control messages. Inthis instance, when a floor grant message is sent to the originator itcan include the GPS coordinate of the target device. The processor 102of the server can run the PTT application 124 that can obtain locationinformation from the location engine 128. The PTT application can thengenerate a floor grant message, e.g., a SIP message, that includes theGPS coordinates and send the message to the originator. The originatordevice can receive the message and the PTT-client 226 can be run. Themessage can be parsed and the coordinates can be obtained.

In another example, the wireless device can receive a message indicatingthat it has been granted the floor. In this embodiment the messageindicating that the device has been granted the floor can include thegeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the remote wirelessdevice. For example, the group communication server 310 could havepreviously stored the geographic coordinates for the remote wirelessdevice in computer readable storage media 110. In this example aprocessor 102 of the group communication server 310 could execute PTTclient 124 in response to receiving the floor grant request fromwireless device. The PTT application can then generate a floor grantmessage, e.g., a SIP message, that includes the GPS coordinates and sendthe message to the originator. The originator device can receive themessage and the PTT-client 226 can be run. The message can be parsed andthe coordinates can be obtained.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 16 operation 1614 shows sendingthe geographic coordinates indicative of the location of the wirelessdevice via the group communication channel. For example, a transceiverof a wireless device 200 can send GPS coordinates via an establishedgroup communication channel to, for example, the group communicationserver 310. In a specific example the group communication channel caninclude a push to talk channel. In this scenario the user can beparticipating in a PTT call and the device 200 can receive a request viathe PTT aware UI 224 indicating that GPS coordinates are to be sharedduring a subsequent talk burst from the device 200. The GPS subsystem228 can send, or make available, e.g., by placing information in ashared memory, GPS coordinates so that the PTT client 226 can send themduring the existing PTT call. The add-GPS request can contain anindication that the data is to be shared using the same floor controlmechanism as the PTT Client 226 or in another specific example the GPScoordinates can be sent by using a different floor control mechanismthan the PTT call. In either case, the PTT client 226 can be executed bythe processor 208 and the processor 208 can send the GPS coordinatesduring a PTT talk spurt.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 16, operation 1616 depictssending a group communications channel setup request that includesgeographic coordinates indicative of the location of the wirelessdevice. For example, a transceiver of a wireless device 200 can send GPScoordinates via an established group communication channel to, forexample, the group communication server 310. In a specific example thegroup communication channel can include a push to talk channel In thisscenario the user can be participating in a PTT call and the device 200can receive a request via the PTT aware UI 224 indicating that GPScoordinates are to be shared during a subsequent talk burst from thedevice 200. The GPS subsystem 228 can send, or make available, e.g., byplacing information in a shared memory, GPS coordinates so that the PTTclient 226 can send them during the existing PTT call. The add-GPSrequest can contain an indication that the data is to be shared usingthe same floor control mechanism as the PTT Client 226 or in anotherspecific example the GPS coordinates can be sent by using a differentfloor control mechanism than the PTT call. In either case, the PTTclient 226 can be executed by the processor 208 and the processor 208can send the GPS coordinates during a PTT talk spurt.

Turning to FIG. 17, it illustrates an operational procedure forpracticing aspects of the present disclosure including operations1700-1704. Operation 1700 begins the operational procedure and operation1702 illustrates sending, by the wireless device, a signal that grants aspecific remote wireless device access to the geographic coordinatesindicative of the location of the wireless device via a groupcommunication channel opened between the wireless device and thespecific remote wireless device. For example, a wireless device 200 canexecute instructions that configure a transceiver to send a signal to agroup communication server 310. The signal in this example can includethe geographic coordinates indicative of the location of the wirelessdevice. For example, the GPS subsystem 228 can be configured to executein a predetermined manner and obtain the wireless device's location,e.g., it can run when the processor 208 is interrupted, when a call isreceived, when user input is received, at a predetermined time interval,when a signal from a base station is received, etc. When the GPSsubsystem 228 executes it can obtain GPS coordinates from a GPS chipsetof the wireless device 200 and send the coordinates to the groupcommunication server via a transceiver.

In this example the group communication server 310 can be configured tostore the GPS coordinates of at least the wireless device 200 in adatabase 314. The group communication server 310 can execute the PTT-GPSapplication 128 and the processor 102 can update the location of thewireless device 200. In this example the PTT-GPS application 128 can beconfigured to selectively grant access to the GPS coordinates duringgroup communication sessions. That is, when a PTT channel is openedbetween the wireless device 200 and another wireless device, e.g.,device 304, the group communication server 310 can be configured toselectively send the GPS coordinates indicative of the location of thewireless device 200 to the other device 304 based on whether or notaccess to the coordinates has been granted to the other wireless device304.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 17, operation 1704 showssending, by the wireless device, a signal that grants a specific remotewireless device access to the geographic coordinates indicative of thelocation of the wireless device via a group communication channel openedbetween the wireless device and the specific remote wireless device. Forexample, in an embodiment the wireless device 200 can send a signal tothe group communication server 310 that authorizes the server to sendgeographic coordinates to a specific wireless device that is currentlyin a group communication session with the wireless device. For example,a group communication session can be opened between the wireless deviceand a specific remote wireless device. If the wireless device was theoriginating device, a PTT-aware UI 224 could have been executed byprocessor 208 and rendered on a screen 204. The device 200 could havereceived a request to enter into a PTT session via a touchpad and thespecific remote wireless device could have been selected from a contactbook, e.g., a program that uses a data structure stored in memory 212.In addition the device 200 can receive a request to send GPS coordinatesin the setup request message. If the wireless device was the target, itcould have received a call setup request message and the PTT-aware UI224 could have been executed and a request could be displayed on display204. The user interface, e.g., touchpad, could have received a requestto enter into the session and a transceiver could have sent a signalindicating a desire to enter into a group communication session 310.

Regardless as to who was the originator or the target, an operator ofthe wireless device 200 can select an option displayed by display 204that sends a signal to the group communication server 310 indicatingthat GPS coordinates can be released to the remote wireless device. Forexample, during the conversation the remote wireless device 200 couldsend a request for the coordinates that is subsequently displayed bydisplay 204. In a specific example the request may say something such as“Would you like to send GPS coordinates to remote wireless device?” Theuser of device 200 can select “Yes” or “No” and the server 310 can actaccordingly. In another example the operator of mobile device 200 may onhis or her own decide to release GPS coordinates to the remote wirelessdevice. In this example the PTT-aware UI 224 can render a screen thatallows the user, via a user interface, to select an option to sendcoordinates. A signal can be sent to the group communication server 310and the server can send the coordinates to the remote wireless device.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe systems and/or processes via examples and/or operational diagrams.Insofar as such block diagrams, and/or examples contain one or morefunctions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within theart that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, orexamples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a widerange of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combinationthereof.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for communicating geographical locationdata to one or more wireless devices that are members of a communicationgroup of a plurality of wireless devices on a wireless network,comprising: at least one requesting wireless device that is a member ofthe communication group, the at least one requesting wireless deviceselectively in communication with the wireless network and configured torequest geographical location data of at least one other member of thecommunication group via a preferred mechanism for receiving geographicallocation data; and a group communication server that supports groupcommunications over a half-duplex communication channel between wirelessdevices that are members of the communication group, the groupcommunication server configured to selectively receive at least arequest for the geographical location data of the at least one othermember of the communication group from the at least one requestingwireless device, obtain the geographical location data of the at leastone other member of the communication group, and transmit thegeographical location data of the at least one other member of thecommunication group to the at least one requesting wireless device viathe preferred mechanism of the requesting wireless device for receivinggeographical location data.
 2. A group communication server method,comprising: storing, in memory, first geographical location data for afirst wireless device; receiving a flag from the first wireless deviceindicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographical locationdata; receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communicationchannel setup request over a half-duplex communication channel, therequest including information that identifies the second wirelessdevice; and sending second geographical location data for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device via the preferredmechanism.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein sending second geographicallocation data for the second wireless device to the first wirelessdevice via the preferred mechanism comprises: sending the secondgeographical location data for the second wireless device to the firstwireless device by embedding the second geographical location datawithin a floor grant message.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinreceiving a group communication channel setup request comprises:receiving a group communication channel setup request that includes arequest for the second geographical location data of the second wirelessdevice.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request comprises: receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request that includes the first geographicallocation data for the first wireless device.
 6. The method of claim 2,further comprising: receiving the first geographical location data forthe first wireless device via an established group communicationchannel; and sending the first geographical location data for the firstwireless device to the second wireless device via the established groupcommunication channel.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving thefirst geographical location data for the first wireless devicecomprises: receiving a floor request from the first wireless device;sending a floor grant message to the first wireless device; andreceiving the first geographical location data for the first wirelessdevice after sending the floor grant message.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the first geographical location data is received through a floorcontrol mechanism used for sharing both the first geographical locationdata and voice data.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the firstgeographical location data is received through a floor control mechanismused solely for sharing the first geographical location data.
 10. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising: sending the group communicationchannel setup request to the second wireless device, the groupcommunication channel setup request including the first geographicallocation data for the first wireless device.
 11. The method of claim 2,wherein sending second geographical location data for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device via the preferred mechanismcomprises sending an INVITE message to the first wireless deviceindicating that a group communication channel has been opened.
 12. Agroup communication server, comprising: a processor coupled to atransceiver and configured with software instructions to performoperations comprising: receiving a flag from an originating deviceindicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographical locationdata; receiving a group communication channel setup request from theoriginating device over a half-duplex communication channel; sending thegroup communication channel setup request to a target device with arequest for target geographical location data for the target deviceembedded within the group communication channel setup request; receivinga group communication channel acknowledgement signal from the targetdevice, with the target geographical location data for the target deviceembedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal;sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has beenestablished to the originating device; and sending the targetgeographical location data for the target device to the originatingdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 13. The group communication serverof claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with softwareinstructions to perform operations further comprising: receiving, viathe group communication channel, originating geographical location datafor the originating device; and sending the originating geographicallocation data for the originating device to the target device.
 14. Thegroup communication server of claim 13, wherein the processor isconfigured with software instructions to perform operations such thatreceiving, via the group communication channel, originating geographicallocation data for the originating device comprises: receiving a floorrequest from the originating device; sending a floor grant message tothe originating device; and receiving the originating geographicallocation data for the originating device after sending the floor grantmessage.
 15. The group communication server of claim 14, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationssuch that the originating geographical location data is received througha floor control mechanism used for sharing both the originatinggeographical location data and voice data.
 16. The group communicationserver of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with softwareinstructions to perform operations such that the originatinggeographical location data is received through a floor control mechanismused solely for sharing the originating geographical location data. 17.The group communication server of claim 13, wherein the processor isconfigured with software instructions to perform operations such thatsending the originating geographical location data for the originatingdevice to the target device comprises sending the originatinggeographical location data for the originating device to the targetdevice based on a flag of the target device indicating a preferredmechanism for receiving the originating geographical location data. 18.The group communication server of claim 12, wherein the processor isconfigured with software instructions to perform operations furthercomprising: receiving originating geographical location data for theoriginating device from the originating device embedded within a floorrequest message.
 19. The group communication server of claim 12, whereinthe processor is configured with software instructions to performoperations such that receiving a group communication channel setuprequest from an originating device over a half-duplex communicationchannel comprises: receiving the group communication channel setuprequest from the originating device over the half-duplex communicationchannel, with originating geographical location data for the originatingdevice embedded within the group communication channel setup request.20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having storedthereon processor executable instructions configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations, comprising: receiving a flag from anoriginating wireless device indicating a preferred mechanism forreceiving geographical location data; establishing a half-duplex groupcommunication channel between a target wireless device and theoriginating wireless device; receiving target geographical location datafor the target wireless device via the half-duplex group communicationchannel; and sending the target geographical location data for thetarget wireless device to the originating wireless device via thepreferred mechanism.
 21. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 20, wherein the stored processor executable instructionsare configured to cause the processor to perform operations such thatreceiving target geographical location data for the target wirelessdevice via the half-duplex group communication channel comprises:receiving a floor request from the target wireless device; sending afloor grant message to the target wireless device; and receiving thetarget geographical location data for the target wireless device aftersending the floor grant message.
 22. The non-transitory computerreadable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the stored processorexecutable instructions are configured to cause the processor to performoperations such that the target geographical location data is receivedthrough a floor control mechanism used for sharing both the targetgeographical location data and voice data.
 23. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the storedprocessor executable instructions are configured to cause the processorto perform operations such that the target geographical location data isreceived through a floor control mechanism used solely for sharing thetarget geographical location data.
 24. A group communication server,comprising: means for receiving a flag from a target wireless deviceindicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographical locationdata; means for establishing a half-duplex group communication channelbetween the target wireless device and an originating wireless device;means for receiving originating geographical location data for theoriginating wireless device via the half-duplex group communicationchannel; and means for sending the originating geographical locationdata for the originating wireless device to the target wireless devicevia the preferred mechanism.
 25. A wireless device, comprising: atransceiver; a memory; and a processor coupled to the transceiver andthe memory and configured with software instructions to performoperations comprising: storing originating geographical location datafor the wireless device in the memory; sending a flag to a groupcommunication server indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; sending, via a wireless signal, a groupcommunication channel setup request to the group communication server,with information that identifies a target device and the originatinggeographical location data for the wireless device embedded within thegroup communication channel setup request; receiving a signal over ahalf-duplex group communication channel indicating that a groupcommunication channel has been established; and receiving targetgeographical location data for the target device via the preferredmechanism.
 26. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the processor isconfigured with software instructions to perform operations furthercomprising: displaying the target geographical location data for thetarget device.
 27. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationssuch that receiving target geographical location data for the targetdevice via the preferred mechanism comprises: receiving, via the groupcommunication channel, the target geographical location data for thetarget device; and displaying the target geographical location data forthe target device.
 28. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationssuch that receiving target geographical location data for the targetdevice via the preferred mechanism comprises: receiving a signalindicating that the target device has a floor, with the targetgeographical location data for the target device embedded within thesignal indicating that the target device has the floor.
 29. The wirelessdevice of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with softwareinstructions to perform operations such that receiving a signal over ahalf-duplex group communication channel indicating that a groupcommunication channel has been established comprises receiving an INVITEmessage indicating that the group communication channel has been opened.30. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having storedthereon processor executable instructions configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations comprising: sending a flag to a groupcommunication server indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; sending a group communication channel setuprequest to the group communication server over a half-duplexcommunication channel, with information that identifies a targetwireless device embedded within the group communication channel setuprequest; and receiving target geographical location data for the targetwireless device from the group communication server via the preferredmechanism.
 31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 30, wherein the stored processor executable instructions areconfigured to cause the processor to perform operations furthercomprising: sending a floor request message to the group communicationserver, with geographic coordinates indicative of a location of anoriginating wireless device embedded within the floor request message.32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 30,wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured tocause the processor to perform operations further comprising: displayinga request for originating geographical location data of an originatingwireless device; receiving input authorizing the request for theoriginating geographical location data of the originating wirelessdevice; and sending the originating geographical location data of theoriginating wireless device to the group communication server.
 33. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein thestored processor executable instructions are configured to cause theprocessor to perform operations further comprising displaying when thetarget wireless device currently has a floor.
 34. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the storedprocessor executable instructions are configured to cause the processorto perform operations such that receiving target geographical locationdata for the target wireless device from the group communication servervia the preferred mechanism comprises receiving the target geographicallocation data for the target wireless device when the target wirelessdevice has a floor.
 35. A wireless device, comprising: means for sendinga flag to a group communication server indicating a preferred mechanismfor receiving geographical location data; means for maintaining a groupcommunication channel over a half-duplex communication channelestablished between the wireless device and a remote wireless device;means for receiving geographical location data for the remote wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanism;and means for displaying the geographical location data.
 36. Thewireless device of claim 35, further comprising: means for receiving asignal indicating that the remote wireless device has a floor; and meansfor modifying a displayed icon that represents the geographical locationdata.
 37. The wireless device of claim 35, wherein means for receivinggeographical location data for the remote wireless device from the groupcommunication server via the preferred mechanism comprises: means forreceiving the geographical location data for the remote wireless devicevia the group communication channel.
 38. The wireless device of claim37, wherein means for receiving the geographical location data for theremote wireless device via the group communication channel comprisesmeans for receiving the geographical location data for the remotewireless device when the remote wireless device has a floor.
 39. Thewireless device of claim 35, wherein means for receiving geographicallocation data for the remote wireless device from the groupcommunication server via the preferred mechanism comprises: means forreceiving the geographical location data for the remote wireless deviceembedded within a floor grant message.
 40. The wireless device of claim35, further comprising: means for sending the geographical location datafor the wireless device via the group communication channel.
 41. Thewireless device of claim 35, further comprising: means for sending agroup communication channel setup request with geographical locationdata for the wireless device embedded within the group communicationchannel setup request.
 42. A non-transitory computer readable storagemedium having stored thereon processor executable instructionsconfigured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:sending a flag to a group communication server indicating a preferredmechanism for receiving geographical location data; sending geographicallocation data from a wireless device over a half-duplex communicationchannel to the group communication server that is configured toselectively grant access to the geographical location data from thewireless device during a group communication session by embedding thegeographical location data from the wireless device within a floorcontrol message; sending a signal from the wireless device grantingaccess to a specific remote wireless device to the geographical locationdata from the wireless device via a group communication channel openedbetween the wireless device and the specific remote wireless device; andreceiving geographical location data for the specific remote wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanism.43. A group communication server, comprising: means for storing, inmemory, first geographical location data for a first wireless device;means for receiving a flag from the first wireless device indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data; means forreceiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channelsetup request over a half-duplex communication channel, the requestincluding information that identifies the second wireless device; andmeans for sending second geographical location data for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device via the preferredmechanism.
 44. The group communication server of claim 43, wherein meansfor sending second geographical location data for the second wirelessdevice to the first wireless device via the preferred mechanismcomprises: means for sending the second geographical location data forthe second wireless device to the first wireless device by embedding thesecond geographical location data within a floor grant message.
 45. Thegroup communication server of claim 43, wherein means for receiving agroup communication channel setup request comprises: means for receivinga group communication channel setup request that includes a request forthe second geographical location data of the second wireless device. 46.The group communication server of claim 43, wherein means for receivinga group communication channel setup request comprises: means forreceiving a group communication channel setup request that includes thefirst geographical location data for the first wireless device.
 47. Thegroup communication server of claim 43, further comprising: means forreceiving the first geographical location data for the first wirelessdevice via an established group communication channel; and means forsending the first geographical location data for the first wirelessdevice to the second wireless device via the established groupcommunication channel.
 48. The group communication server of claim 47,wherein means for receiving the first geographical location data for thefirst wireless device comprises: means for receiving a floor requestfrom the first wireless device; means for sending a floor grant messageto the first wireless device; and means for receiving the firstgeographical location data for the first wireless device after sendingthe floor grant message.
 49. The group communication server of claim 48,wherein the first geographical location data is received through a floorcontrol mechanism used for sharing both the first geographical locationdata and voice data.
 50. The group communication server of claim 48,wherein the first geographical location data is received through a floorcontrol mechanism used solely for sharing the first geographicallocation data.
 51. The group communication server of claim 43, furthercomprising: means for sending the group communication channel setuprequest to the second wireless device, the group communication channelsetup request including the first geographical location data for thefirst wireless device.
 52. The group communication server of claim 43,wherein means for sending second geographical location data for thesecond wireless device to the first wireless device via the preferredmechanism comprises means for sending an INVITE message to the firstwireless device indicating that a group communication channel has beenopened.
 53. A group communication server, comprising: a memory; and aprocessor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configuredwith processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:storing, in the memory, first geographical location data for a firstwireless device; receiving a flag from the first wireless deviceindicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographical locationdata; receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communicationchannel setup request over a half-duplex communication channel, therequest including information that identifies the second wirelessdevice; and sending second geographical location data for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device via the preferredmechanism.
 54. The group communication server of claim 53, wherein theprocessor is configured with processor-executable instructions toperform operations such that sending second geographical location datafor the second wireless device to the first wireless device via thepreferred mechanism comprises: sending the second geographical locationdata for the second wireless device to the first wireless device byembedding the second geographical location data within a floor grantmessage.
 55. The group communication server of claim 53, wherein theprocessor is configured with processor-executable instructions toperform operations such that receiving a group communication channelsetup request comprises: receiving a group communication channel setuprequest that includes a request for the second geographical locationdata of the second wireless device.
 56. The group communication serverof claim 53, wherein the processor is configured withprocessor-executable instructions to perform operations such thatreceiving a group communication channel setup request comprises:receiving a group communication channel setup request that includes thefirst geographical location data for the first wireless device.
 57. Thegroup communication server of claim 53, wherein the processor isconfigured with processor-executable instructions to perform operationsfurther comprising: receiving the first geographical location data forthe first wireless device via an established group communicationchannel; and sending the first geographical location data for the firstwireless device to the second wireless device via the established groupcommunication channel.
 58. The group communication server of claim 57,wherein the processor is configured with processor-executableinstructions to perform operations such that receiving the firstgeographical location data for the first wireless device comprises:receiving a floor request from the first wireless device; sending afloor grant message to the first wireless device; and receiving thefirst geographical location data for the first wireless device aftersending the floor grant message.
 59. The group communication server ofclaim 58, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executableinstructions to perform operations such that the first geographicallocation data is received through a floor control mechanism used forsharing both the first geographical location data and voice data. 60.The group communication server of claim 58, wherein the processor isconfigured with processor-executable instructions to perform operationssuch that the first geographical location data is received through afloor control mechanism used solely for sharing the first geographicallocation data.
 61. The group communication server of claim 53, whereinthe processor is configured with processor-executable instructions toperform operations further comprising: sending the group communicationchannel setup request to the second wireless device, the groupcommunication channel setup request including the first geographicallocation data for the first wireless device.
 62. The group communicationserver of claim 53, wherein the processor is configured withprocessor-executable instructions to perform operations such thatsending second geographical location data for the second wireless deviceto the first wireless device via the preferred mechanism comprisessending an INVITE message to the first wireless device indicating that agroup communication channel has been opened.
 63. A non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium having stored thereonprocessor-executable software instructions configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations for communicating geographical locationdata, the operations comprising: storing, in memory, first geographicallocation data for a first wireless device; receiving a flag from thefirst wireless device indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; receiving, from a second wireless device, agroup communication channel setup request over a half-duplexcommunication channel, the request including information that identifiesthe second wireless device; and sending second geographical locationdata for the second wireless device to the first wireless device via thepreferred mechanism.
 64. The non-transitory processor-readable storagemedium of claim 63, wherein the stored processor-executable softwareinstructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operationssuch that sending second geographical location data for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device via the preferred mechanismcomprises: sending the second geographical location data for the secondwireless device to the first wireless device by embedding the secondgeographical location data within a floor grant message.
 65. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 63, whereinthe stored processor-executable software instructions are configured tocause a processor to perform operations such that receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request comprises: receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request that includes a request for thesecond geographical location data of the second wireless device.
 66. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 63, whereinthe stored processor-executable software instructions are configured tocause a processor to perform operations such that receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request comprises: receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request that includes the first geographicallocation data for the first wireless device.
 67. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium of claim 63, wherein the storedprocessor-executable software instructions are configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations further comprising: receiving the firstgeographical location data for the first wireless device via anestablished group communication channel; and sending the firstgeographical location data for the first wireless device to the secondwireless device via the established group communication channel.
 68. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 67, whereinthe stored processor-executable software instructions are configured tocause a processor to perform operations such that receiving the firstgeographical location data for the first wireless device comprises:receiving a floor request from the first wireless device; sending afloor grant message to the first wireless device; and receiving thefirst geographical location data for the first wireless device aftersending the floor grant message.
 69. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the storedprocessor-executable software instructions are configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations such that the first geographicallocation data is received through a floor control mechanism used forsharing both the first geographical location data and voice data. 70.The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 68,wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions areconfigured to cause a processor to perform operations such that thefirst geographical location data is received through a floor controlmechanism used solely for sharing the first geographical location data.71. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 63,wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions areconfigured to cause a processor to perform operations furthercomprising: sending the group communication channel setup request to thesecond wireless device, the group communication channel setup requestincluding the first geographical location data for the first wirelessdevice.
 72. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium ofclaim 63, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructionsare configured to cause a processor to perform operations such thatsending second geographical location data for the second wireless deviceto the first wireless device via the preferred mechanism comprisessending an INVITE message to the first wireless device indicating that agroup communication channel has been opened.
 73. A method forcommunicating geographical location data with a group communicationserver, comprising: receiving a flag from an originating deviceindicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographical locationdata; receiving a group communication channel setup request from theoriginating device over a half-duplex communication channel; sending thegroup communication channel setup request to a target device with arequest for target geographical location data for the target deviceembedded within the group communication channel setup request; receivinga group communication channel acknowledgement signal from the targetdevice, with the target geographical location data for the target deviceembedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal;sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has beenestablished to the originating device; and sending the targetgeographical location data for the target device to the originatingdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 74. The method of claim 73, furthercomprising: receiving, via the group communication channel, originatinggeographical location data for the originating device; and sending theoriginating geographical location data for the originating device to thetarget device.
 75. The method of claim 74, wherein receiving, via thegroup communication channel, originating geographical location data forthe originating device comprises: receiving a floor request from theoriginating device; sending a floor grant message to the originatingdevice; and receiving the originating geographical location data for theoriginating device after sending the floor grant message.
 76. The methodof claim 75, wherein the originating geographical location data isreceived through a floor control mechanism used for sharing both theoriginating geographical location data and voice data.
 77. The method ofclaim 75, wherein the originating geographical location data is receivedthrough a floor control mechanism used solely for sharing theoriginating geographical location data.
 78. The method of claim 74,wherein sending the originating geographical location data for theoriginating device to the target device comprises sending theoriginating geographical location data for the originating device to thetarget device based on a flag of the target device indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving the originating geographical locationdata.
 79. The method of claim 73, further comprising: receivingoriginating geographical location data for the originating device fromthe originating device embedded within a floor request message.
 80. Themethod of claim 73, wherein receiving a group communication channelsetup request from an originating device over a half-duplexcommunication channel comprises: receiving the group communicationchannel setup request from the originating device over the half-duplexcommunication channel, with the originating geographical location datafor the originating device embedded within the group communicationchannel setup request.
 81. A non-transitory processor-readable storagemedium having stored thereon processor-executable instructionsconfigured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:receiving a flag from an originating device indicating a preferredmechanism for receiving geographical location data; receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request from the originating device over ahalf-duplex communication channel; sending the group communicationchannel setup request to a target device with a request for targetgeographical location data for the target device embedded within thegroup communication channel setup request; receiving a groupcommunication channel acknowledgement signal from the target device,with the target geographical location data for the target deviceembedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal;sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has beenestablished to the originating device; and sending the targetgeographical location data for the target device to the originatingdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 82. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the storedprocessor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor toperform operations further comprising: receiving, via the groupcommunication channel, originating geographical location data for theoriginating device; and sending the originating geographical locationdata for the originating device to the target device.
 83. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 82, whereinthe stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations such that receiving, via the groupcommunication channel, originating geographical location data for theoriginating device comprises: receiving a floor request from theoriginating device; sending a floor grant message to the originatingdevice; and receiving the originating geographical location data for theoriginating device after sending the floor grant message.
 84. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 83, whereinthe stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations such that the originating geographicallocation data is received through a floor control mechanism used forsharing both the originating geographical location data and voice data.85. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 83,wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured tocause a processor to perform operations such that the originatinggeographical location data is received through a floor control mechanismused solely for sharing the originating geographical location data. 86.The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 82,wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured tocause a processor to perform operations such that sending theoriginating geographical location data for the originating device to thetarget device comprises sending the originating geographical locationdata for the originating device to the target device based on a flag ofthe target device indicating a preferred mechanism for receiving theoriginating geographical location data.
 87. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the storedprocessor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor toperform operations further comprising: receiving originatinggeographical location data for the originating device from theoriginating device embedded within a floor request message.
 88. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 81, whereinthe stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations such that receiving a groupcommunication channel setup request from an originating device over ahalf-duplex communication channel comprises: receiving the groupcommunication channel setup request from the originating device over thehalf-duplex communication channel, with the originating geographicallocation data for the originating device embedded within the groupcommunication channel setup request.
 89. A group communication server,comprising: means for receiving a flag from an originating deviceindicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographical locationdata; means for receiving a group communication channel setup requestfrom the originating device over a half-duplex communication channel;means for sending the group communication channel setup request to atarget device with a request for target geographical location data forthe target device embedded within the group communication channel setuprequest; means for receiving a group communication channelacknowledgement signal from the target device, with the targetgeographical location data for the target device embedded within thegroup communication channel acknowledgement signal; means for sending asignal indicating that a group communication channel has beenestablished to the originating device; and means for sending the targetgeographical location data for the target device to the originatingdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 90. The group communication serverof claim 89, further comprising: means for receiving, via the groupcommunication channel, originating geographical location data for theoriginating device; and means for sending the originating geographicallocation data for the originating device to the target device.
 91. Thegroup communication server of claim 90, means for wherein receiving, viathe group communication channel, originating geographical location datafor the originating device comprises: means for receiving a floorrequest from the originating device; means for sending a floor grantmessage to the originating device; and means for receiving theoriginating geographical location data for the originating device aftersending the floor grant message.
 92. The group communication server ofclaim 91, wherein the originating geographical location data is receivedthrough a floor control mechanism used for sharing both the originatinggeographical location data and voice data.
 93. The group communicationserver of claim 91, wherein the originating geographical location datais received through a floor control mechanism used solely for sharingthe originating geographical location data.
 94. The group communicationserver of claim 90, wherein means for sending the originatinggeographical location data for the originating device to the targetdevice comprises means for sending the originating geographical locationdata for the originating device to the target device based on a flag ofthe target device indicating a preferred mechanism for receiving theoriginating geographical location data.
 95. The group communicationserver of claim 89, further comprising: means for receiving originatinggeographical location data for the originating device from theoriginating device embedded within a floor request message.
 96. Thegroup communication server of claim 89, wherein means for receiving agroup communication channel setup request from an originating deviceover a half-duplex communication channel comprises: means for receivingthe group communication channel setup request from the originatingdevice over the half-duplex communication channel, with the originatinggeographical location data for the originating device embedded withinthe group communication channel setup request.
 97. A method for sendingtarget geographical location data for a target device, comprising:receiving a flag from an originating wireless device indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data;establishing a half-duplex group communication channel between a targetwireless device and the originating wireless device; receiving thetarget geographical location data for the target device via thehalf-duplex group communication channel; and sending the targetgeographical location data for the target device to the originatingwireless device via the preferred mechanism.
 98. The method of claim 97,wherein receiving target geographical location data for the targetdevice via the half-duplex group communication channel comprises:receiving a floor request from the target wireless device; sending afloor grant message to the target wireless device; and receiving thetarget geographical location data for the target wireless device aftersending the floor grant message.
 99. The method of claim 98, wherein thetarget geographical location data is received through a floor controlmechanism used for sharing both the target geographical location dataand voice data.
 100. The method of claim 98, wherein the targetgeographical location data is received through a floor control mechanismused solely for sharing the target geographical location data.
 101. Agroup communication server, comprising: a memory; and a processorcoupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured withprocessor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:receiving a flag from an originating wireless device indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data;establishing a half-duplex group communication channel between a targetwireless device and the originating wireless device; receiving targetgeographical location data for the target wireless device via thehalf-duplex group communication channel; and sending the targetgeographical location data for the target wireless device to theoriginating wireless device via the preferred mechanism.
 102. The groupcommunication server of claim 101, wherein the processor is configuredwith software instructions to perform operations receiving targetgeographical location data for the target wireless device via thehalf-duplex group communication channel comprises: receiving a floorrequest from the target wireless device; sending a floor grant messageto the target wireless device; and receiving the target geographicallocation data for the target wireless device after sending the floorgrant message.
 103. The group communication server of claim 102, whereinthe processor is configured with software instructions to performoperations the target geographical location data is received through afloor control mechanism used for sharing both the target geographicallocation data and voice data.
 104. The group communication server ofclaim 102, wherein the processor is configured with softwareinstructions to perform operations the target geographical location datais received through a floor control mechanism used solely for sharingthe target geographical location data.
 105. A group communicationserver, comprising: means for receiving a flag from an originatingwireless device indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; means for establishing a half-duplex groupcommunication channel between a target wireless device and theoriginating wireless device; means for receiving target geographicallocation data for the target wireless device via the half-duplex groupcommunication channel; and means for sending the target geographicallocation data for the target wireless device to the originating wirelessdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 106. The group communication serverof claim 105, wherein means for receiving target geographical locationdata for the target wireless device via the half-duplex groupcommunication channel comprises: means for receiving a floor requestfrom the target wireless device; means for sending a floor grant messageto the target wireless device; and means for receiving the targetgeographical location data for the target wireless device after sendingthe floor grant message.
 107. The group communication server of claim106, wherein the target geographical location data is received through afloor control mechanism used for sharing both the target geographicallocation data and voice data.
 108. The group communication server ofclaim 106, wherein the target geographical location data is receivedthrough a floor control mechanism used solely for sharing the targetgeographical location data.
 109. A group communication server,comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationscomprising: receiving a flag from a target wireless device indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data;establishing a half-duplex group communication channel between thetarget wireless device and an originating wireless device; receivingoriginating geographical location data for the originating wirelessdevice via the half-duplex group communication channel; and sending theoriginating geographical location data for the originating wirelessdevice to the target wireless device via the preferred mechanism.
 110. Amethod for sending originating geographical location data for anoriginating wireless device, comprising: receiving a flag from a targetwireless device indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; establishing a half-duplex groupcommunication channel between the target wireless device and theoriginating wireless device; receiving the originating geographicallocation data for the originating wireless device via the half-duplexgroup communication channel; and sending the originating geographicallocation data for the originating wireless device to the target wirelessdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 111. A non-transitory computerreadable storage medium having stored thereon processor executableinstructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations,comprising: receiving a flag from a target wireless device indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data;establishing a half-duplex group communication channel between thetarget wireless device and an originating wireless device; receivingoriginating geographical location data for the originating wirelessdevice via the half-duplex group communication channel; and sending theoriginating geographical location data for the originating wirelessdevice to the target wireless device via the preferred mechanism.
 112. Amethod for establishing a group communication channel on a wirelessdevice, comprising: storing originating geographical location data forthe wireless device in memory; sending a flag to a group communicationserver indicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographicallocation data; sending, via a wireless signal, a group communicationchannel setup request to the group communication server, withinformation that identifies a target device and the originatinggeographical location data for the wireless device embedded within thegroup communication channel setup request; receiving a signal over ahalf-duplex group communication channel indicating that the groupcommunication channel has been established; and receiving targetgeographical location data for the target device via the preferredmechanism.
 113. The method of claim 112, further comprising: displayingthe target geographical location data for the target device.
 114. Themethod of claim 112, wherein receiving target geographical location datafor the target device via the preferred mechanism comprises: receiving,via the group communication channel, the target geographical locationdata for the target device; and displaying the target geographicallocation data for the target device.
 115. The method of claim 112,wherein receiving target geographical location data for the targetdevice via the preferred mechanism comprises: receiving a signalindicating that the target device has a floor, with the targetgeographical location data for the target device embedded within thesignal indicating that the target device has the floor.
 116. The methodof claim 112, wherein receiving a signal over a half-duplex groupcommunication channel indicating that a group communication channel hasbeen established comprises receiving an INVITE message indicating thatthe group communication channel has been opened.
 117. A wireless device,comprising: means for storing originating geographical location data forthe wireless device in memory; means for sending a flag to a groupcommunication server indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; means for sending, via a wireless signal, agroup communication channel setup request to the group communicationserver, with information that identifies a target device and theoriginating geographical location data for the wireless device embeddedwithin the group communication channel setup request; means forreceiving a signal over a half-duplex group communication channelindicating that a group communication channel has been established; andmeans for receiving target geographical location data for the targetdevice via the preferred mechanism.
 118. The wireless device of claim117, further comprising: means for displaying the target geographicallocation data for the target device.
 119. The wireless device of claim117, wherein means for receiving target geographical location data forthe target device via the preferred mechanism comprises: means forreceiving, via the group communication channel, the target geographicallocation data for the target device; and means for displaying the targetgeographical location data for the target device.
 120. The wirelessdevice of claim 117, wherein means for receiving target geographicallocation data for the target device via the preferred mechanismcomprises: means for receiving a signal indicating that the targetdevice has a floor, with the target geographical location data for thetarget device embedded within the signal indicating that the targetdevice has the floor.
 121. The wireless device of claim 117, whereinmeans for receiving a signal over a half-duplex group communicationchannel indicating that a group communication channel has beenestablished comprises means for receiving an INVITE message indicatingthat the group communication channel has been opened.
 122. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereonprocessor executable instructions configured to cause a processor toperform operations comprising, comprising: storing originatinggeographical location data for a wireless device in memory; sending aflag to a group communication server indicating a preferred mechanismfor receiving geographical location data; sending, via a wirelesssignal, a group communication channel setup request to the groupcommunication server, with information that identifies a target deviceand the originating geographical location data for the wireless deviceembedded within the group communication channel setup request; receivinga signal over a half-duplex group communication channel indicating thata group communication channel has been established; and receiving targetgeographical location data for the target device via the preferredmechanism.
 123. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 122, wherein the stored processor executable instructions areconfigured to cause the processor to perform operations furthercomprising: displaying the target geographical location data for thetarget device.
 124. The non-transitory computer readable storage mediumof claim 122, wherein the stored processor executable instructions areconfigured to cause the processor to perform operations such thatreceiving target geographical location data for the target device viathe preferred mechanism comprises: receiving, via the groupcommunication channel, the target geographical location data for thetarget device; and displaying the target geographical location data forthe target device.
 125. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 122, wherein the stored processor executableinstructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operationssuch that receiving the target geographical location data for the targetdevice via the preferred mechanism comprises: receiving a signalindicating that the target device has a floor, with the targetgeographical location data for the target device embedded within thesignal indicating that the target device has the floor.
 126. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 122, whereinthe stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause theprocessor to perform operations such that receiving a signal over ahalf-duplex group communication channel indicating that a groupcommunication channel has been established comprises receiving an INVITEmessage indicating that the group communication channel has been opened.127. A method for receiving geographical location data on an originatingwireless device, comprising: sending a flag to a group communicationserver indicating a preferred mechanism for receiving geographicallocation data; sending a group communication channel setup request tothe group communication server over a half-duplex communication channel,with information that identifies a target wireless device embeddedwithin the group communication channel setup request; and receivingtarget geographical location data for the target wireless device fromthe group communication server via the preferred mechanism.
 128. Themethod of claim 127, further comprising: sending a floor request messageto the group communication server, with geographic coordinatesindicative of a location of an originating wireless device embeddedwithin the floor request message.
 129. The method of claim 127, furthercomprising: displaying a request for originating geographical locationdata of the originating wireless device; receiving input authorizing therequest for the originating geographical location data of theoriginating wireless device; and sending the originating geographicallocation data of the originating wireless device to the groupcommunication server.
 130. The method of claim 127, further comprisingdisplaying when the target wireless device currently has a floor. 131.The method of claim 127, wherein receiving target geographical locationdata for the target wireless device from the group communication servervia the preferred mechanism comprises receiving the target geographicallocation data for the target wireless device when the target wirelessdevice has a floor.
 132. An originating wireless device, comprising: atransceiver; a memory; and a processor coupled to the transceiver andthe memory, wherein the processor is configured with softwareinstructions to perform operations comprising: sending a flag to a groupcommunication server indicating a preferred mechanism for receivinggeographical location data; sending a group communication channel setuprequest to the group communication server over a half-duplexcommunication channel, with information that identifies a targetwireless device embedded within the group communication channel setuprequest; and receiving target geographical location data for the targetwireless device from the group communication server via the preferredmechanism.
 133. The originating wireless device of claim 132, whereinthe processor is configured with software instructions to performoperations further comprising: sending a floor request message to thegroup communication server, with geographic coordinates indicative of alocation of an originating wireless device embedded within the floorrequest message.
 134. The originating wireless device of claim 132,wherein the processor is configured with software instructions toperform operations further comprising: displaying a request fororiginating geographical location data of an originating wirelessdevice; receiving input authorizing the request for the originatinggeographical location data of the originating wireless device; andsending the originating geographical location data of the originatingwireless device to the group communication server.
 135. The originatingwireless device of claim 132, wherein the processor is configured withsoftware instructions to perform operations further comprisingdisplaying when the target wireless device currently has a floor. 136.The originating wireless device of claim 132, wherein the processor isconfigured with software instructions to perform operations such thatreceiving target geographical location data for the target wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanismcomprises receiving the target geographical location data for the targetwireless device when the target wireless device has a floor.
 137. Anoriginating wireless device, comprising: means for sending a flag to agroup communication server indicating a preferred mechanism forreceiving geographical location data; means for sending a groupcommunication channel setup request to the group communication serverover a half-duplex communication channel, with information thatidentifies a target wireless device embedded within the groupcommunication channel setup request; and means for receiving targetgeographical location data for the target wireless device from the groupcommunication server via the preferred mechanism.
 138. The originatingwireless device of claim 137, further comprising: means for sending afloor request message to the group communication server, with geographiccoordinates indicative of a location of an originating wireless deviceembedded within the floor request message.
 139. The originating wirelessdevice of claim 137, further comprising: means for displaying a requestfor originating geographical location data of an originating wirelessdevice; means for receiving input authorizing the request for theoriginating geographical location data of the originating wirelessdevice; and means for sending the originating geographical location dataof the originating wireless device to the group communication server.140. The originating wireless device of claim 137, further comprisingmeans for displaying when the target wireless device currently has afloor.
 141. The originating wireless device of claim 137, wherein meansfor receiving target geographical location data for the target wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanismcomprises means for receiving the target geographical location data forthe target wireless device when the target wireless device has a floor.142. A wireless device, comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and aprocessor coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationscomprising: sending a flag to a group communication server indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data;maintaining a group communication channel over a half-duplexcommunication channel established between the wireless device and aremote wireless device; receiving geographical location data for theremote wireless device from the group communication server via thepreferred mechanism; and displaying the geographical location data. 143.The wireless device of claim 142, wherein the processor is configuredwith software instructions to perform operations further comprising:receiving a signal indicating that the remote wireless device has afloor; and modifying a displayed icon that represents the geographicallocation data.
 144. The wireless device of claim 142, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationssuch that receiving geographical location data for the remote wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanismcomprises: receiving the geographical location data for the remotewireless device via the group communication channel.
 145. The wirelessdevice of claim 144, wherein the processor is configured with softwareinstructions to perform operations such that receiving the geographicallocation data for the remote wireless device via the group communicationchannel comprises receiving the geographical location data for theremote wireless device when the remote wireless device has a floor. 146.The wireless device of claim 142, wherein the processor is configuredwith software instructions to perform operations such that receivinggeographical location data for the remote wireless device from the groupcommunication server via the preferred mechanism comprises: receivingthe geographical location data for the remote wireless device embeddedwithin a floor grant message.
 147. The wireless device of claim 142,wherein the processor is configured with software instructions toperform operations further comprising: sending the geographical locationdata for the wireless device via the group communication channel. 148.The wireless device of claim 142, wherein the processor is configuredwith software instructions to perform operations further comprising:sending a group communication channel setup request with geographicallocation data for the wireless device embedded within the groupcommunication channel setup request.
 149. A method for displayinggeographical location data on a wireless device, comprising: sending aflag to a group communication server indicating a preferred mechanismfor receiving geographical location data; maintaining a groupcommunication channel over a half-duplex communication channelestablished between the wireless device and a remote wireless device;receiving geographical location data for the remote wireless device fromthe group communication server via the preferred mechanism; anddisplaying the geographical location data.
 150. The method of claim 149,further comprising: receiving a signal indicating that the remotewireless device has a floor; and modifying a displayed icon thatrepresents the geographical location data.
 151. The method of claim 149,wherein receiving geographical location data for the remote wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanismcomprises: receiving the geographical location data for the remotewireless device via the group communication channel.
 152. The method ofclaim 151, wherein receiving the geographical location data for theremote wireless device via the group communication channel comprisesreceiving the geographical location data for the remote wireless devicewhen the remote wireless device has a floor.
 153. The method of claim149, wherein receiving geographical location data for the remotewireless device from the group communication server via the preferredmechanism comprises: receiving the geographical location data for theremote wireless device embedded within a floor grant message.
 154. Themethod of claim 149, further comprising: sending the geographicallocation data for the wireless device via the group communicationchannel.
 155. The method of claim 149, further comprising: sending agroup communication channel setup request with geographical locationdata for the wireless device embedded within the group communicationchannel setup request.
 156. A non-transitory computer readable storagemedium having stored thereon processor executable instructionsconfigured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:sending a flag to a group communication server indicating a preferredmechanism for receiving geographical location data; maintaining a groupcommunication channel over a half-duplex communication channelestablished between a wireless device and a remote wireless device;receiving geographical location data for the remote wireless device fromthe group communication server via the preferred mechanism; anddisplaying the geographical location data.
 157. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 156, wherein the storedprocessor executable instructions are configured to cause the processorto perform operations further comprising: receiving a signal indicatingthat the remote wireless device has a floor; and modifying a displayedicon that represents the geographical location data.
 158. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 156, whereinthe stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause theprocessor to perform operations such that receiving geographicallocation data for the remote wireless device from the groupcommunication server via the preferred mechanism comprises: receivingthe geographical location data for the remote wireless device via thegroup communication channel.
 159. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of claim 158, wherein the stored processor executableinstructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operationssuch that receiving the geographical location data for the remotewireless device via the group communication channel comprises receivingthe geographical location data for the remote wireless device when theremote wireless device has a floor.
 160. The non-transitory computerreadable storage medium of claim 156, wherein the stored processorexecutable instructions are configured to cause the processor to performoperations such that receiving geographical location data for the remotewireless device from the group communication server via the preferredmechanism comprises: receiving the geographical location data for theremote wireless device embedded within a floor grant message.
 161. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 156, whereinthe stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause theprocessor to perform operations further comprising: sending thegeographical location data for the wireless device via the groupcommunication channel.
 162. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 156, wherein the stored processor executableinstructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operationsfurther comprising: sending a group communication channel setup requestwith geographical location data for the wireless device embedded withinthe group communication channel setup request.
 163. A method forgranting access to geographical location data with a wireless device:sending a flag to a group communication server indicating a preferredmechanism for receiving geographical location data; sending geographicallocation data from the wireless device over a half-duplex communicationchannel to the group communication server that is configured toselectively grant access to the geographical location data from thewireless device during a group communication session by embedding thegeographical location data from the wireless device within a floorcontrol message; sending a signal from the wireless device grantingaccess to a specific remote wireless device to the geographical locationdata from the wireless device via a group communication channel openedbetween the wireless device and the specific remote wireless device; andreceiving geographical location data for the specific remote wirelessdevice from the group communication server via the preferred mechanism.164. A wireless device, comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and aprocessor coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein theprocessor is configured with software instructions to perform operationscomprising: sending a flag to a group communication server indicating apreferred mechanism for receiving geographical location data; sendinggeographical location data from the wireless device over a half-duplexcommunication channel to the group communication server that isconfigured to selectively grant access to the geographical location datafrom the wireless device during a group communication session byembedding the geographical location data from the wireless device withina floor control message; sending a signal from the wireless devicegranting access to a specific remote wireless device to the geographicallocation data from the wireless device via a group communication channelopened between the wireless device and the specific remote wirelessdevice; and receiving geographical location data for the specific remotewireless device from the group communication server via the preferredmechanism.
 165. A wireless device, comprising: means for sending a flagto a group communication server indicating a preferred mechanism forreceiving geographical location data; means for sending geographicallocation data from the wireless device over a half-duplex communicationchannel to the group communication server that is configured toselectively grant access to the geographical location data from thewireless device during a group communication session by embedding thegeographical location data from the wireless device within a floorcontrol message; means for sending a signal from the wireless devicegranting access to a specific remote wireless device to the geographicallocation data from the wireless device via a group communication channelopened between the wireless device and the specific remote wirelessdevice; and means for receiving geographical location data for thespecific remote wireless device from the group communication server viathe preferred mechanism.